“Five days ago,” he began, “I was put on to Caroline Schimmel; I have found out all about her by this time.  She is as regular as clockwork in her duties at least.  She wakes at ten and takes her absinthe.  Then she goes to a little restaurant she knows, and has her breakfast and a game at cards with any one that will play with her.  At six in the evening she goes to the Grand Turk, a restaurant and dancing-shop in the Rue des Poisonnieres.  Ain’t it a swell ken just!  You can eat; drink, dance, or sing, just as you like; but you must have decent togs on, or they won’t let you in.”

“Wouldn’t they let you through then?”

Toto pointed significantly to his rags as he replied,—­

“This rig out wouldn’t pass muster, but I have a scheme in hand.”

Tantaine took down the address of the dancing-saloon, and then, addressing Toto with the utmost severity,—­

“Do you think,” said he, “that this report is worth a hundred francs?”

Toto made a quaint grimace.

“Do you think,” asked he, “that Caroline can lead the life she does without money?  No fear.  Well, I have found out where the coin comes from.”

The dim light in the office enabled Tantaine to hide the pleasure he felt on hearing these words.

“Ah,” answered he carelessly, as if it was a matter of but little moment, “and so you have found out all that, have you?

“Yes, and a heap besides.  Just you listen.  After her breakfast, my sweet Carry began to play cards with some chaps who had been grubbing at the next table.  ‘Regular right down card sharpers and macemen,’ said I to myself, as I watched the way in which they faked the pasteboards.  ‘They’ll get everything out of you, old gal.’  I was in the right, for in less than an hour she had to go up to the counter and leave one of her rings as security for the breakfast.  He said he knew her, and would give her credit.  ‘You are a trump,’ said she.  ’I’ll just trot off to my own crib and get the money.’”

“Did she go home?”

“Not she; she went to a real swell house in a bang up part of Paris, the Rue de Varennes.  She knocked at the door, and in she went, while I lounged about outside.”

“Do you know who lives there?”

“Of course I do.  The grocer round the corner told me that it was inhabited by the Duke—­what was his blessed name?  Oh, the Duke——­”

“Was it the Duke de Champdoce?”

“That is the right one, a chap they say as has his cellars chock full of gold and silver.”

“You are rather slow, my lad,” said Tantaine, with his assumed air of indifference.  “Get on a bit, do.”

Toto was much put out; for he had expected that his intelligence would have created an immense sensation.

“Give a cove time to breathe in.  Well, in half an hour out comes my Carry as lively as a flea.  She got into a passing cab and away she went.  Fortunately I can run a bit, and reached the Palais Royal in time to see Caroline change two notes of two hundred francs each at the money-changers.”