“Then I shall go after him at once,” I replied.  “He will in all probability be off his guard.  He will imagine me to be still locked up in this room, you see.”

“And I shall accompany you, if you will permit me,” said Leglosse.

“But why?” I asked in surprise.  “What have you got to do with him?  You have no case against him, and you cannot spare the time to do it simply out of kindness to me.”

“It’s not kindness, it’s business, my friend,” he replied.  “You may not believe it, but I have a warrant for your man’s arrest.”

“On what charge?”

“On a charge of being concerned in a big embezzlement in Cochin China,” he answered.  “We laid the other two men by the heels at the time, but the Englishman, who was the prime mover in it, we have never been able to lay our hands upon.  I felt certain that day when I met him in Amsterdam, that I had seen him somewhere before.  Ever since then I have been puzzling my brains to discover where it was, and why it was so familiar to me.  A photograph was eventually sent us of the Englishman by the colonial authorities, but in that photograph he, the person I suspect, wears a beard and a heavy moustache.  It is the same man, however, and the description, even to the mark upon the face, exactly tallies with Hayle.  Now I think I can help you to obtain a rather unique revenge upon the man, that is to say, if you want it.  From what you have so far told me, I understand that you have no evidence against him strong enough to justify the issue of a warrant.  Well, I have that evidence, and between us you may be sure we’ll bring him back to Paris.”

This was delightful hearing after all we had been through lately; at any rate I greeted the prospect of Leglosse’s co-operation with acclamation.  It would be hard, if between us we could not find Hayle and bring him to the justice he so richly deserved.

“Now let us get out of this,” I said.  “I must obtain something to eat if I perish in the attempt.  I am well nigh starving.  A basin of soup, a roll and a cup of coffee, are all that I have had to-day.”

“You shall dine at once,” he answered, “and here.  There is an excellent little restaurant further down the street, and one of my men shall go there and tell them to bring you up a meal.  After that you shall go home and change your costume, and then we will arrange what shall be done about the travelling.”

This programme was carried out to the letter.  We made a good meal, at least I know that I did, and when it was eaten, a cab was procured, and in company with Leglosse I said good-bye to the house in which I had spent so short a time, yet in which I had been so miserable.

“I shall never know how to repay you for your kindness,” I said to my companion as we drove down the street.  “Had it not been for you and your men I should now be starving in that wretched place.  I’ll certainly forgive Hayle if he is ever successful enough to take me in again by one of his rascally tricks.”