My companion spread out his hand.  He stopped short on the pavement, and gesticulated violently.

“It is you who ask me these things!” he exclaimed.  “Yet it is from you I hoped to obtain information.  I know nothing,—­absolutely nothing!  Simply my instructions were to meet Mr. Delora on his arrival in London, to show him every possible civility, and to assist him in any purpose where my help would be useful.  I go to meet him—­he has disappeared!  I haunt his rooms—­he has not returned!  His niece knows nothing.  I try to force my way into his rooms, and my life is attempted!”

“Wait a moment,” I said.  “You spoke of instructions.  From whom do you receive them?”

“From my government,” he answered a little shortly.  “Mr. Delora has some private business of importance here in England, in which they are interested.”

“Do you know anything of his niece?” I asked.

“Nothing whatever,” the young man answered, “except that she seems a very charming young lady, and will, I believe, inherit a great fortune.”

“Do you know of any enemies that he might have?” I asked.  “For instance, is this business of his connected with any affairs which might bring him into touch with such people as Louis and his associates?”

“I will be frank with you,” the young man said.  “I do not know what his business was.  Neither, curiously enough, does my chief.  My instructions simply were to meet him, and to see him day by day.  You yourself can judge how well I have succeeded!”

“Have you been to the police?” I asked.

“I have not,” Lamartine answered.  “We have written out to Brazil explaining the circumstances, and asking for a cablegram in reply.  By the bye,” he continued, a little diffidently, “did it strike you last night that Miss Delora must have been associated with that blackguard Louis in his little attempt upon me?”

“I do not believe anything of the sort!” I answered shortly.

The young man smiled cynically.

“It is perhaps natural,” he answered.

“You are not seriously suggesting,” I asked, “that a young lady in the position of Miss Delora would descend to scheming with a head-waiter?”

“Captain Rotherby,” my companion said, “I do not know anything.  I do not understand anything.  I only know that the Delora business has puzzled me,—­has puzzled my chief.  We have important communications for Mr. Delora, and he cannot be found.”

“It is not possible,” I declared, “for a man to disappear in London.”

“A man may disappear anywhere,” Lamartine said dryly, “when such people as Louis are interested in him!  However, we do no good by comparing notes when we neither of us know anything.  If I should gain any information of Mr. Delora’s whereabouts—­”

I gave him my card quickly.

“We will exchange our news,” I assured him.  “It is a promise.”

He bowed, and left me with a little farewell wave of the hand.