"Why, I don't know; it was Julie who told me." A freckled face, half hidden by a matted shock of hair, appeared. Julie was not reticent like her mother. She explained in a hoarse, alcoholic voice: "It's quite simple. When I came in last night about four I heard groans in Josephine's room. I went to see and found Josephine writhing in pain as if she had been--poisoned." "What did you do then?" "Oh, nothing," declared Julie. "I just trotted away again; it wasn't my business, but the Flirt came and meddled in it." "The Flirt! Where is she?" The Flirt, a faded, wrinkled woman of fifty, appeared from a doorway where she had been listening. "Where is Josephine?" demanded Loupart. "At Lâriboisière hospital, ward 22, since you want to know." After a moment's amazement, Loupart broke out furiously: "You sent off Josephine in the middle of the night! You took her to a hospital for a little indigestion! Without asking my consent! Why she's no more ill than I am!" "Have to believe she is," replied the Flirt, "since the 'probes' have kept her." Loupart turned and tramped downstairs swearing. "She'll come out of that a damned sight quicker than she went in!" A few moments later Loupart entered Father Korn's saloon. Having set forth his plans to that worthy, the latter proceeded to demolish them. "You can't do anything to-day, so there's no use trying. You'll have to wait till to-morrow at midday, the proper visiting hour." Loupart recognised the truth of the publican's assertion and, calling for writing paper, sat down and scrawled a letter to his mistress. "Motor," he cried to the cripple who was still at Mother Toulouche's basket, "tumble along with this note to Lâriboisière; look sharp, and when you get back I'll stand you a glass." As the cripple hurried away he was all but knocked down by a newsboy, running and shouting: "Extra! Extra! Get _The Capital_. Extraordinary and mysterious crime of the Cité Frochot. Murder of a woman." "Shall I get a copy?" asked the publican. Loupart stalked out of the saloon without turning. "Oh, I know all about that," he cried. Father Korn stood rooted to the spot at Loupart's answer. "What! He knows already!" VI THE LÂRIBOISIÈRE HOSPITAL The clerk, who had admitted Juve, withdrew, and M. de Maufil, the amiable director, gave the police officer his most gracious smile. "When I applied this morning at headquarters for an officer to be sent here, I scarcely expected to receive so celebrated a detective, upon a matter which is really very commonplace." "Your letter to M. Havard mentioned a person I have been looking for with the greatest interest for the past two days. Loupart, alias 'The Square,'" replied Juve, "that is why I came myself. What is it about, sir?"