“He did not say,” replied the valet, whose name was Jacob Bude.
“I know that he sometimes visits a foreign lady up-town.”
“Yes; master says she was a princess in her own country.”
“Yes, sir; she is almost as black as a negro, but she is very handsome, for all that.”
“I’ve gone to her house with messages more than once.”
“I’m afraid,” said the valet, “that Mr. Stolburst has met with some misfortune.”
“How came you to form that idea?” inquired the detective.
“Master has not been himself these last few days. There was a horrible-looking little man here the other day, and ever since Mr. Stolburst has seemed depressed. Who are you? I had almost forgotten to ask.”
“Not to my knowledge; but why do you fear that he has?”
“I’ve heard him mutter in his sleep about murder.”
“Did he have any one with him when he left?”
“Then you suppose he visited this woman, Zulima?”
Burt left the hotel, and returned again that night.
Stolburst had not as yet put in an appearance. Now the matter assumed a serious aspect. Could it be that Ajeeb had made away with the explorer?
Burt feared the worst. Bude was quite positive something terrible had happened to his master. Why he entertained that belief he could not tell. The fellow was attached to his employer.
Burt determined to visit Zulima. From Bude’s description, he believed her to be an Abyssinian. He thought it strange Stolburst had not spoken to him about the princess.
Burt went directly to the St. Joseph flat. After looking the visitor over quite curiously, Marie admitted him to the presence of her mistress. The conversation between Zulima and the detective was carried on in French.
“Monsieur,” said the princess, rising upon his entry, “I cannot imagine what you can want with me.”
“Leave us, Marie,” said Zulima, after some hesitation.
Throwing an angry glance at Burt, the maid flounced out of the room.
“Madame,” said Burt, “you are acquainted with a gentleman named Henry Stolburst?”
“What has that to do with your visit here?” demanded Zulima.
The princess did not understand what that meant, and Burt explained.
“Has Mr. Stolburst been here since yesterday afternoon?” he wound up by asking.
“Quite,” replied Zulima. “Has anything happened to him?”
“Would you be very sorry if there had?” asked Burt abruptly.