After Wulf had disappeared Madame Ceiron returned to her office and was about to enter when a voice called: "Here I am, Madame Ceiron. I found your note under my door. Is there anything I can do for you?" "Ah, it's you, my child. You are very kind to have come, and there is something that you can do for me. I want to know if you will come upstairs to Susy d'Orsel's room with me." "What on earth for?" "Well, I'll tell you. It's this way: I am scared to go up there all alone." Marie Pascal smiled. "Of course it is rather appalling, but why do you go there, Madame Ceiron?" "Well, you see, the police have put their seals over everything and I am paid one franc a day to see that nobody enters the apartment and breaks them. I have to take a look around from time to time, so won't you come with me?" "Certainly, Madame Ceiron." Marie Pascal and the concierge went up together and began a careful examination of the poor girl's rooms. While the young girl was looking curiously around Madame Ceiron entered the boudoir. She crossed to the chimney and pulled out a small casket, which was hidden behind a blue curtain. She opened it quickly and inspected the contents. "Jewels! Which would be the best to take? Ah, this ring and this bracelet ... and these earrings. Now for the key. I'll take that with me." "Mam'zelle Marie Pascal!" "Madame Ceiron?" "Come along, my dear. I am so frightened, it upsets me to go through this poor girl's apartment. Just run and see if the outer door is locked." While Marie Pascal turned her back and walked toward the door, Madame Ceiron suddenly pressed against a large box which fell over and spread a fine coal dust over the carpet. "It is locked, Madame Ceiron." "Then come along. I hope to Heaven this business will soon be cleared up or it will make me ill." A few moments later Marie Pascal had returned to her own bedroom and the concierge busied herself by opening in her office a parcel which she had taken from a cupboard. She was interrupted in her work by the arrival of a working woman who was engaged to take Madame Ceiron's place when she had errands to do. "I am going to leave you alone here to-day, Madame. I have some shopping to do.... I am going to spend my New Year's gifts, buy a green dress and a hat with red feathers.... It is my turn to dress up a little." Shortly afterwards the concierge went out, taking with her the parcel she had prepared. But instead of going to the shopping district of Paris, she hurried toward the Bois de Boulogne. When she had reached a remote part of the wood she entered a small hut. A few moments later visitors to the Bois noticed the well-known Ouaouaoua, the Primitive Man, walking down the main pathway. The enigmatic and dreamy face of this man resembled neither the Marquis de Serac nor Madame Ceiron and yet ... The science of camouflage pushed to its extreme limits produces the most unexpected transformations. CHAPTER XIII THE KINGDOM OF HESSE-WEIMAR