AJV ECCENTRIC CHASE. 239 



a kerbstone, down comes the horse, a regular cropper, 

 and though I save the tumble I had half foreseen, 

 the mischief is done. It takes two or three minutes to 

 pick up the horse, which is not hurt, but just reaches 

 Charing Cross in time to see the mail steaming away- 

 over the bridge. 



Perhaps he has left a letter at the club giving me some 

 information ? I call in passing, bound back to Victoria 

 Street to find out where a telegram will reach the trou- 

 blesome fugitive. 



" Mr. Leonard was here a few minutes ago. Gone to 

 Paris, sir," a waiter tells me. 



"Did he leave any note or message ? " 



" No, sir. Wasn't here more than five minutes," the 

 man says ; so muttering what are not precisely bless- 

 ings on Leonard's erratic proceedings, I return to his 

 chambers. 



" Didn't catch master, sir ? " the servant asks. 



"No. Just missed train. Where is he staying in 

 Paris ? " I inquire. 



"Well, sir, I don't rightly know. Master generally 

 goes to the Imperial, as you are aware, sir ; but he said 

 last time it was so horrid dirty he shouldn't go again. 

 Master was speaking about Meurice's the other day, 

 but there was another gentleman here talking about 

 another hotel in the Rue de la — I didn't quite get the 

 name, I'm afraid — and he said he thought he should try 

 that. He might go to the Imperial, but I wasn't to send 

 his letters, as his movements was very uncertain, sir." 



