Besides, if he wanders off the course, you must get him back to it.

In this you must act diplomatically.

His first move will naturally be to take you to the office of the mayor of the township, where a register of licenses is kept.

There you will find that in September, 1857, there passed through the place a troupe of travelling performers, consisting of nine persons, with the caravans, under the management of a man known as Vigoureux, nicknamed the Grasshopper." Catenac rapidly jotted down these items.

"Not so fast," said he; "I cannot follow you." After a short pause, Mascarin continued.
"An attentive examination of the book will prove to you that no other troupe of itinerant performers passed through the place during that month; and it is clear that it must have been the Grasshopper with whom the lad went away.