To His Highness, The Rajah of Jehangar.

Your Highness,

I understand you are interested in the identity of the lady staying at the Hôtel de Paris and registered as Mademoiselle Fântóme. I can give you the information you require. Should you be sufficiently interested to persuade me to divulge it, I will call at your convenience.

I beg to remain,

Your Highness’s most obedient servant,

Henry Dulton.

The Rajah handed the note back to the Chief.

‘I personally have no knowledge of the man,’ he said, ‘but I think one of my Aides-de-Camp may have got in touch with him. He spoke to me of someone who could obtain information regarding the lady in question. You would wish to see him?’

‘I would be grateful if Your Highness would allow me to do so.’

‘I will have you shown to his sitting room,’ the Rajah said, then paused before ringing the bell. ‘It is a pity the man died before he could give me the information I required.’

‘A great pity, Your Highness. I regret that we cannot help you in this matter. Mademoiselle Fântóme and the lady with her, Madame Secret, are not known to us. Several people have already made discreet enquiries, for the two ladies have aroused much curiosity in Monte Carlo.’

‘It is unfortunate that Mr. Dulton – or whoever he might be – died quite so quickly,’ the Rajah said. ‘You are sure that it was suicide?’

‘Quite sure, Your Highness. The pistol with which he killed himself lay beside him, and the bullet in his head had obviously been fired by that very weapon.’

‘Convincing evidence, of course. There was nothing else of interest in his possession?’

Monsieur Gutier shrugged his shoulders.

‘Very few things, Your Highness. Only this wallet and I am afraid there is nothing here which might help us. Just some of his own visiting cards and a few others advertising places of amusement in Paris.’

Monsieur Gutier opened the wallet as he spoke and, pulling out come of its contents, laid them on the writing table.

‘I gather that Mr. Dulton was what one might call a tout,’ he said primly. For instance, there are a number of cards here from 5 Rue de Roi. Your Highness has doubtless heard of the establishment, its reputation is well known. Henry Dulton would have received a commission on the introduction of clients. We shall make enquiries in Paris, but I doubt if they can he of any assistance with regard to his death.’

The Rajah picked up one of the cards which the Chief indicated. It was a plain piece of pasteboard with the words ‘5 Rue de Roi’ written across it and at the top left hand corner a single sentence, ‘La Maison plus chic de tout Paris’. In the bottom right hand corner in very small type were the words ‘Madame Bleuet’.

The Rajah gave an exclamation,