I Forbid the Banns! — page 391: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

CHAPTER LII. ON THE ADVANTAGES OF A CLEW. ULIAN CHARLTON remained in his house all the J next day. He was waiting to receive a visit from one of the firm of private inquiry agents. He had frequently heard of the astuteness of Messrs, Renard & Lupus, and if they possessed any ability whatever, surely they had now a chance of displaying it! The finding of Bertha was not a matter that demanded any extraordinary powers, only the ordinary astuteness of a private inquiry bureau. Messrs. Renard & Lupus called their office a bureau. The word suggested the United States, and the United States suggested extraordinary astuteness. He was surprised when the evening came without bring- ing any message or messenger from theagents. He lunched at home, but meant to dine at his club, for the loneliness of the house had become oppressive to him. He drove to the bureau and was fortunate enough to find Mr. Lupus there. Mr. Lupus looked extremely knowing. ‘To look knowing is to suggest that you know a great deal more than you would like to confess under the most extraordinary pressure. Mr. Lupus said that his men had not actually succeeded in discovering the whereabouts of the lady ; but they had a clew. Mr. Charlton would be kept fully informed as to how the clew operated. This was satisfactory, in a measure, to Mr. Charlton, but when the next day passed without any more definite result he did not feel quite so satisfied. He asked Mr. Lupus what was the nature of the clew that he held, but Mr. Lupus 381 (CORNIECLIOOKS (E(0)