Canau, suspicious at first, soon saw this, and in his turn seemed to meet the visitor upon his own ground, apparently speaking openly and to the point. "But he is young--a boy--and foolish; he does not understand my girls--I call them `my girls,' Monsieur. He makes mistakes; but we forgive him. She," he said, nodding towards the inner room, "is young too, and we like to have her here--to visit Janet. Perhaps it was to see her he came. But we forgive him, and he has not been much of late." Harry looked fixedly at the little Frenchman, as he spoke in his strange halting fashion, meeting the young man's gaze with a shifting look. Were these words of truth, or was there something hidden? Was this man frank, or only an old deceiver, who could mask his face to suit any character when he was at war with society? Still there was such an air of candour in all that was spoken, and so much quiet dignity in the Frenchman's words, that it was with a feeling he could not have explained that Harry thanked him for what had been said. "But you do not seem to realise the fact," exclaimed Harry. "He has disappeared so suddenly, and knowing him to have been a visitor here, we naturally looked towards this place with suspicion." "Yes, yes, but I see," said Canau, quietly; "but he is not here. We do not know. This is a bad place round about, but we are quiet people here; and if they--these girls, knew anything, they would tell directly. I hope he has not been robbed. There are many here at night it would not be safe to meet. But there! he is young, he is gone upon some voyage, some travel; be at ease: he will return, and the old man be happy." Canau's words were so calm, that forgetting place, and the Frenchman's abject appearance, Harry seemed to recognise in him so much of the gentleman that he raised his hat, the salute being as courteously returned. "If you can give me any information, pray do so," said Harry, "for we are ill at ease respecting him." He added the Regent Street address to his card, and handed it to the Frenchman, who seemed to brighten up and look elate as he spoke with Harry. "My best endeavours shall be at the service of Monsieur," he said; and then in answer to a few more words, he gave an affirmative nod. Then together they entered the little room to find Patty bending over Janet, whose face was buried in her hands. "I am afraid," said Harry, addressing Patty, "that I have startled her by my vehemence. I see now that I have been labouring under a gross misapprehension, and can only ask your forgiveness. Pray make my excuses to her when she grows more calm. I am very anxious about my friend."