I had to find out local intrigues and gossips,\u00a0 and what was doing, who were the leading demi-mondaines and gamblers? Were there any possible Secret Service men? Hence the courier, a Swiss from Ober Arau, a district of Switzerland, I luckily knew well. When he knocked at the door, I cheerily bade him come in. I made my manner as good natured as possible. I offered him a real Medijeh cigarette. As befitting his station, he was slipping the cigarette in his pocket.<\/p>\r\n
\"Oh, no!\" I said. \"Light it, won't you? Have a little smoke with me here. I'm a bit lonesome. I want to get my bearings. Won't you join me in a glass of wine?\"<\/p>\r\n
That was my first oar in. After some commonplace conversation, as to how the season was, I asked:<\/p>\r\n
\"Anybody of interest here?\"<\/p>\r\n
I winked knowingly. Possibly it pleased the courier to have someone to chuckle over a secret. All my oars were in.<\/p>\r\n
\"At the Grand Hotel de Londres,\" he said slyly, \"there is a gentleman who does not fool me.\"<\/p>\r\n
I offered him another cigarette, helped him to another glass of wine.<\/p>\r\n
\"He is registered there as Count Techlow, but he can't fool me. He is the Prince Galitzin.\"<\/p>","type":"rich"}