Monsieur Hector took a magnifying glass from a drawer, and gravely inspected the crown before him, ending by assuring the baronet that by the use of certain washes prepared by himself from peculiar and unique receipts he could restore the hairs that made him slightly thin upon the crown. Sir Grantley, in full faith, resigned himself to the coiffeur's hands, and was sponged and rubbed and scented during a space of about an hour, when he rose and paid a liberal fee, which made Monsieur Hector smile and bow. Then he turned to go, but stopped short at the door and came back. "Oh, Monsieur Launay, I'm told that you are a great friend of Mademoiselle Justine, Lady Barmouth's maid." "I have that honour, monsieur," said the hairdresser, bowing low. "Ah, yes," said Sir Grantley, hesitating. "By the way, I am Sir Grantley Wilters." "I have heard mademoiselle mention Sir Vilter," said the hairdresser, bowing. "Yes, of course," said the baronet. "Look here, don't you know, I'm engaged to Lady Maude Diphoos, and I want to save her from pain. No spying--_moucharder_--but I should be glad to hear of anything that you think might interest me. Mademoiselle Justine will tell you better what I mean. Good-day." "Bah!--Phit!--Pst! Big John Bull, fool!" cried Monsieur Hector as soon as he was alone; and he indulged in a peculiar saltatory exercise, indicative of kicking his client in the chest, and making derisive gestures with pointed fingers. "You think I tell you what I know. Pst! Grand bete. Big thin beast. Cochon. Peeg! Come and be shampooed, and I had you by the nose and tell you noting. Aha! Be your spy? No. Justine tells me all, and I know so much that my head is full. But wait you. Aha! Sir Vilter! wait you. _Vive l'amour_." He folded the cloth that had been spread over Sir Grantley's shoulders with a jerk, and was in the act of putting it away, when something touched his leg, and looking down, it was to see Joby, and directly after Charley Melton entered the room. CHAPTER FOURTEEN. LADY MAUDE'S HAIR COMES OFF. It was very singular, and showed weakness, but Maude Diphoos, who had hitherto looked with contempt upon her ladyship's dealings with Monsieur Hector, laughing at the idea of using washes, powder, and the like, as pure water made her beautiful fair hair cluster about her clear white temples, and hang round a neck whose skin put the most cleverly concocted pearl powder in the shade, now seemed to become somewhat of a convert to his powers. Justine confided to her mistress that Miladi Maude's hair was coming off in great patches, horrifying her ladyship so that she gave Lord Barmouth no sleep all one night, and the next morning when she drilled the servants, and inspected them as to smartness of livery, amount of hairpowder used, and the rest, they confided to one another that the old girl's temper was not to be borne.