"You have rendered me a great service." "Don't mention it," said the clerk.

"I am very glad to have been able to give you the information you required." I thanked him once more and left the office.

Now if Mr.Steffano Gairdi happened to have a cut or the mark of one upon the inside of his left hand, I felt that I should be within measurable distance of the end of the affair.

But how was I to get a view of his hands?
If he were the man I wanted, he would probably be on his guard, and he had already proved himself to be sufficiently acute to make me careful how I went to work with him.

I had no time to lose, however.