Miss Day: I think you are wonderful, Mr. Bates. I don't know how I'll ever repay you for your kindness.
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Bates: I'm only too glad to be able to do a little for you. Since we are going to work to-
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Drop = leave out
Right away = at once
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gether for a time, wouldn't it make matters easier if you drop the Mr. Bates and start calling me John right away?
Miss Day: All right, you call me Joan then!
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Bates spent the afternoon in talking to the shipping company, their representative who was at the Gare de Lyons, and the cab driver, All confirmed the story the girl had told him. He then placed the matter before a senior official of the Embassy. The same evening at the hotel.
Bates: Now, Joan, I want you to think hard and tell me exactly what furniture was in room 342 at the Crillon. The Embassy is going to arrange through the French Police to get permission to look at room 342, perhaps to-morrow.
Miss Day: I remember the curtains very
distinctly; they were cream-coloured. Then
the chairs were covered with some red material. The wallpaper I can also remember, for I didn't like it - it was cream-coloured, too, and was covered with big red roses. The bed was just an ordinary wooden bed, nothing special about it. They are the most important things that I can remember.
Bates: That's quite enough.
The following afternoon Miss Day is waiting at the door of their hotel for the return of Bates. After a long wait, he appears.
Miss Day: Oh, John, do tell me if you were able to arrange the matter with the French Police!
Bates: Yes, Joan. The first secretary of the Embassy arranged everything. We went to the Crillon this afternoon, but found that everything in the room was quite different from the description given by you. The curtains were blue and white; the chairs were covered with grey material; and the wallpaper was white and had many small flowers. But now we come to a most surprising thing.
The wallpaper had only just been put up! I noticed one or two places where it was not yet quite dry.
Miss Day: Oh, John, what can it all mean? I wonder where poor mother is? I've got the idea that I shall never see her again.
Bates: Cheer up, Joan! We'll get to the bottom of this matter, even if it should take us weeks. When we had finished looking at room 342, I thought it might be a good idea to try and find the name and address of the man who does the paper-hanging for the hotel. It wasn't very easy, but as usual, a little money helped. So, I suggest that we go round to see him as soon as we've had some dinner.
Later in the evening at the paper-hanger's shop.
Paper-hanger: So you want to know if I papered a room at the Crillon yesterday? can't understand why you should be interested in my work.
Bates: It's very important for this lady to know, and, if you did, which room it was.
Paper-hanger: So it's important for this young lady to know, is it? Well, like all good Frenchmen, I should be pleased to help a nice young lady. But these are hard times, and paperhangers are not overpaid for their work.
Bates: I know that room 342 was papered yesterday. I was there this afternoon and saw that the paper was not yet quite dry. What I really want to know is whether you can give us any information. If the information were worth it, I should be ready to give twenty-five francs for it.
Paper-hanger: Well, for a nice young lady and-
Bates: You mean, that for twenty-five francs you might tell us something. All right, if you have anything to tell us, the money is yours.
Paper-hanger: Well, I was sent for suddenly yesterday morning. When I got to the Crillon, they were busy moving furniture out of a room - No. 342. I was told to put up fresh paper as quickly as possible. I tried to find out the reason for it, monsieur, or it is not only women who are curious in this world. No,
body could, or would, explain anything to me. That is all I can tell you.
Bates: Here is the money. I think you have earned it. Are you certain that another twentyfive francs would not help you to remember still more?
Paper-hanger: If I could tell you anymore, I would do it for the sake of the young lady.
A fortnight later.
Bates: Well, my dear Joan, I have now tried all the servants at the Crillon who might be able to tell us what happened. I cannot get a word out of them. There are probably very few that know the truth, and they have been well paid to keep their mouths shut.
Miss Day: I've given up all hope of ever seeing mother again. You have been wonderful to me, John. Without you to help and comfort me, I don't know what I should have done.
Bates: Nothing has ever given me greater pleasure, Joan. I am not looking forward to the day when you go to your father's people