Two more were employed in watching the Hindu
servant and one in watching my good friend Casimir. Thus, nine clever
men and myself were immediately engaged upon the case.
Why do I speak of a "case" when thus far nothing of apparent
importance had occurred? I will explain. Although the Grand Duke
travelled incognito, his Government knew of the journey and wished to
learn with what object it had been undertaken.
At the time that I made the acquaintance of Casimir the Grand Duke
had been in Paris for three days, and he was--according to my
informant--"like a raging lion." The charming dancer had vouchsafed
no reply to his invitation and he had met with the same reception, on
presenting himself in person, which had been accorded to myself and to
those others who had sought to obtain an interview with Zara el-Khala!
My state of mystification grew more and more profound. I studied the
reports of my nine assistants.
It appeared that the girl had been in Paris for a period of two months.
She occupied a suite of rooms in which all her meals were served.
Except the Hindu who drove the hired car, she had no servant. She
never appeared in the public part of the hotel unless veiled, and then
merely in order to pass out to the car or in from it on returning. She
drove out every day. She had been followed, of course, but her
proceedings were unexceptionable. Leaving the car at a point in the
Bois De Boulogne, she would take a short walk, if the day was fine
enough, never proceeding out of sight of the Hindu, who followed with
the automobile, and would then drive back to her hotel.
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