A small but expensive car awaited her at
the stage door. My suspicions increased. I went away, but returned on
the following night, otherwise attired, and from a hiding-place which
I had selected on the previous evening I watched the dancer depart.
She came out so enveloped in furs and veils as to be unrecognizable,
and a Hindu wearing a chauffeur's uniform opened the door of the car
for her, and then, having arranged the rugs to her satisfaction,
mounted to the wheel and drove away.
I traced the car. It had been hired for the purpose of taking Zara
el-Khala from her hotel--to the theatre and home nightly. I sent a
man to call upon her at the hotel--in order to obtain press material,
ostensibly. She declined to see him. I became really interested. I
sent her a choice bouquet, having the card of a nobleman attached to
it, together with a message of respectful admiration. It was returned.
I prevailed upon one of the most handsome and gallant cavalry officers
in Paris to endeavour to make her acquaintance. He was rebuffed.
_Eh bien!_ I knew then that Mlle. Zara of the Desert was unusual.
You will at once perceive that when I heard from the worthy Casimir
how this unapproachable lady had actually written to the Grand Duke
Ivan and had gone so far as to send him her photograph, I became
excited. It appeared to me that I found myself upon the brink of an
important discovery. I set six of my first-class men at work: three
being detailed to watch the hotel of the Grand Duke Ivan and three to
watch Zara el-Khala.
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