“I do,” he replied.  “He came in to book his return passage to Italy.  He only undertook the voyage for the sake of his health.”

“Then it’s just possible you may know where he is staying now?” I asked, not however with much hope of success.  “If you can tell me, I shall be under an obligation to you.”

“I can tell you that also,” the young man answered.  “He is staying at the Continental Hotel in Adelaide Street.”

“I am more obliged to you than I can say,” I returned.  “You have rendered me a great service.”

“Don’t mention it,” said the clerk.  “I am very glad to have been able to give you the information you required.”

I thanked him once more and left the office.  Now if Mr. Steffano Gairdi happened to have a cut or the mark of one upon the inside of his left hand, I felt that I should be within measurable distance of the end of the affair.  But how was I to get a view of his hands?  If he were the man I wanted, he would probably be on his guard, and he had already proved himself to be sufficiently acute to make me careful how I went to work with him.  I had no time to lose, however.  The next boat sailed for Europe in two days’ time, and he had booked his passage in her.  For that reason alone, I knew that I must be quick if I wished to accumulate sufficient evidence against him to justify the issue of a warrant for his arrest.  I accordingly walked on to the Continental Hotel, and asked to see the manager, with whom I had the good fortune to be acquainted.  I was shown into his private office, and presently he joined me there.  He was familiar with my connection with the police force, and laughingly remarked that he hoped I had not called upon him in my official capacity.

“As a matter of fact that is just what I am doing,” I replied.  “I want you to give me some information concerning one of your guests.  I believe I am right in saying that you have an Italian gentleman, named Gairdi, staying at your hotel?”

“That is certainly so,” he admitted.  “I hope there is nothing against him?”

“It is rather soon to say that,” I said.  “I am suspicious of the man—­and I want to ask you a few questions concerning him.”

“As many as you like,” he returned.  “I cannot say, however, that I know very much about him.  He has been up the country, and only returned to Brisbane yesterday.”

“Is this the first occasion on which he has stayed here?”

“No,” the manager replied.  “He was here nearly a month ago for a couple of nights, and he had had his room reserved for him while he was away.”

“Perhaps you can tell me if he slept here on the night of July the nineteenth?”

“If you will excuse me for a moment I can soon let you know,” said the manager, and then crossed the room to go into an outer office.  A few moments later he returned and nodded his head.  “Yes, he slept here that night, and went to Toowoomba next day.”