Finally, the young girl arrived to wake her up. Her eyes showed that she was excited. ‘Oh, madame!’ she said, ‘a very bad thing happened here last night. The man in room one hundred and seventeen – he is dead! Please do not say that I told you but the police were here, the doctor, everybody.’
Miss Bracegirdle said nothing. There was nothing to say. But the young woman was too excited to stop. ‘And do you know who this dead man was, madame? They said that he was Boldhu, the famous killer, wanted by the police. Last year he killed a woman and cut her up and threw her into the river. And last night, he died here in our hotel – in the room next door! We do not know how. Did you say coffee, madame?’
‘No, thank you, just a cup of tea – strong tea, please.’
Very well, madame.’
