"Very well Madame. Thank you for asking." He turned to me and tilted his head back. "And you must be Herr Michaels." I nodded. "My name is Leopold Diltz. It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm the caretaker here and your host. Welcome to the Hotel St. Germain. Please come this way, I've already had a suite prepared for you." He bowed slightly and turned back to her. "Your usual suite is ready Madame." He closed and locked the door, then walked ahead of us into the lobby. A large silver and crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling of the lobby and filled every inch of the room with light. Several oil paintings and sketches hung on the white walls above red velvet armchairs and couches.

"Can you show me this town tonight?" I asked her in a whisper as we walked behind Diltz.

"Oh, sorry love, I can't. I've got an appointment later tonight," she said, taking two quick steps ahead of me. "Have any others arrived yet?" she asked Diltz.

"Yes, about half Madame," he said as he turned right down a short hallway with two doors on each side. He opened the first door on the right. "This is your room, sir. Dinner will be served in the dining room at 8 o'clock."

Poppy stood behind him. I looked at her as I hovered in the open doorway. "Get some rest, Evan. I'll see you before I go out," she said and walked away.

"Don't hesitate to let me know if you need any attention for your injury sir," Diltz said as he closed the door.

Alone again. The room's furnishings were old but pleasant. Dark wood paneling covered the lower part of the walls and was color matched to the parquet pattern hardwood floor. I perused the books on the recessed bookshelf before I walked into the bathroom, filled the large bathtub, and climbed in.

The knock on the door woke me at 7:45. It was a young woman dressed in the black and white dress of the staff's uniform. "Your dinner will be ready in a few minutes," she said struggling with the English.

I donned the dark suit along with a black shoe and sock and walked down the hall toward the lobby.

"Right this way sir," Mr. Diltz said, sliding two dark wooden doors open revealing a large dining room. The long narrow table had twenty high backed, carved wooden chairs around it. Each one richly inlaid with red leather padding. A single white plate and table setting lay in front of the end chair. "Please be seated. I'll have your meal brought out promptly."

"Where's everybody else? Isn't Poppy going to eat?"