'So much the better for the Countess!' He rose late the next morning.

Inquiring for his Parisian friends, he was informed that both the French gentlemen had left for Milan.

As he crossed the hall, on his way to the restaurant, he noticed the head porter chalking the numbers of the rooms on some articles of luggage which were waiting to go upstairs.

One trunk attracted his attention by the extraordinary number of old travelling labels left on it.

The porter was marking it at the moment--and the number was, '13 A.' Francis instantly looked at the card fastened on the lid.