"Oh, I can't tell you that! Yon wouldn't like me to repeat to him all that you say to me, would you?" "No; but zen, me is different; I know 'e say zat me a bad 'oman; I know, I know!" "Indeed, he said nothing of the sort, and if you don't keep a little quieter, I shall really not be able to do my work properly." "Oh, pardon; I vill be so good." "By the way," I inquired, "did Mr. Merritt call on you to-day?" "Ah! you means ze gentleman vat I see, ven I go ze dead man's?" "Yes." "He a big policeman, not?" she asked. "Well, not a very big one," I answered, with a smile, "but he does a good deal of important work for the police." "Ah, yes. Important, _oui_," she nodded. "Vy 'e come see my 'usban'? Do you know? I not know; my 'usban', 'e not know, eizer." "He didn't see your husband, then?" "No; Argot, he not in." "Well, I think Mr. Merritt is looking for a hat containing the initials, A. B., and he wanted to ask your husband if he had found it, by any chance." She started up quite regardless of her wound. "Ah, _par example, oui_! Yes, indeed," she exclaimed, vehemently. "Your husband has found such a hat?" "Yes, yes; I tell you. 'e make _une_ scenes about zat 'at!" she burst out, angrily. "But why?" I asked. "Why should he make a scene about it?" "Ah!" she said, tossing her head coquettishly, though real annoyance still lingered in her voice, "'e say it is ze 'at of my lover!" "Really? Have you a lover whose initials are A. B.?" "I 'ave no lover at all, Meestair! but I 'ave a cousin whose names begin vis zose letters." "I see; but how did your husband happen to get his hat?" "I not know; Argot 'e come in von evenin'----" "What evening?" I interrupted. "Tuesday evening, las' veek--" I suppose my face betrayed my excitement, for she stopped and asked, anxiously: "Vat is ze matter?" "Nothing, nothing! go on; I am merely much interested in your story. Well, what happened on Tuesday?"