"Well," said the detective, "what have you learned?" "Nothing that will please you, I am sorry to say. Only I have found the other Mitchel. He is a lunatic, in an asylum out in the suburbs. But the fellow up north is your man sure. This one, they say, went crazy because his sweetheart gave him the mitten." "Did you find out the woman's name?" "I could not do that. It seems as carefully hidden as though it was a state secret. That gives you an insight into what the Creole pride is." "Very well. I think you have worked for me faithfully. Here is a hundred dollar bill. Will that satisfy you?" "Perfectly. I wish you luck." An hour later a telegram was handed to Mr. Barnes, which read: "Have found the child. (Signed) Lucette." In the afternoon Mr. Barnes started for New York accompanied by Mr. Neuilly. That same night Mr. Robert Leroy Mitchel received a telegram which read: "Barnes off for New York. Has old Neuilly with him. If the last named knows anything, you must be careful. (Signed) SEFTON." After reading this, Mr. Mitchel completed his toilet, used the despatch to light a cigarette, and then took his _fiancee_ to the opera. CHAPTER XIV. AN INTERRUPTED WEDDING. During the time spent by Mr. Barnes in the South, his spies in New York discovered little, or nothing, against the persons whom they had been charged to watch. Indeed from the standpoint of a detective, the actions of all had been most uninteresting. The usual round of social affairs, the customary number of theatre or opera parties, the regular afternoon teas, in fact the ordinary routine life of the man or woman of fashion, was all that could be observed. Yet of course these weeks did not pass without any occurrence of note. The chief one perhaps, was the naming of the day, upon which the wedding of Mr. Mitchel and Miss Remsen was to occur. This was May 5th, the very day upon which Mr. Barnes would reach New York with Mr. Neuilly. Thus, fate seemed hurrying on a climax which was to occur on the wedding day. In New Orleans a detective was seeking evidence upon which he hoped to convict a man of the heinous crime of murder, whilst in New York a beautiful woman was bestowing her faith upon this same man, and with the assistance of many fingers, preparing to bedeck herself in bridal finery for his delectation. Meanwhile, the man himself acted most unconcernedly. He seemed to consider himself beyond the risk of danger, and he accepted his happiness as does one who had honorably earned it.