, whenhecouldnotfollowthetrainofthereasonable, -banks, policestations, rendezvous-hesystematicallywenttothewrongplaces, knockedateveryemptyhouse, turneddowneverycul-de-sac, wentupeverylaneblockedwithrubbish, ;butifonehadnoclueatallitwasthebest, , , somethingaboutthequietudeandquaintnessoftherestaurant, rousedallthedetective', andsittingdownatatablebythewindow, askedforacupofblackcoffee.
Itwashalf-waythroughthemorning, andhehadnotbreakfasted;theslightlitterofotherbreakfastsstoodaboutonthetabletoremindhimofhishunger;andaddingapoachedeggtohisorder, heproceededmusinglytoshakesomewhitesugarintohiscoffee, , oncebyapairofnailscissors, andoncebyahouseonfire;oncebyhavingtopayforanunstampedletter, 's, ."Thecriminalisthecreativeartist;thedetectiveonlythecritic,"hesaidwithasoursmile, andliftedhiscoffeecuptohislipsslowly, .
Helookedatthevesselfromwhichthesilverypowderhadcome;itwascertainlyasugar-basin, ;;, -paperedwalls, thewholeplaceappearedneat, .
Whenthatofficialhurriedup, fuzzy-hairedandsomewhatblear-eyedatthatearlyhour, thedetective(whowasnotwithoutanappreciationofthesimplerformsofhumour).
"Doyouplaythisdelicatejokeonyourcustomerseverymorning?"inquiredValentin."Doeschangingthesaltandsugarneverpallonyouasajest?"
Thewaiter, whenthisironygrewclearer, stammeringlyassuredhimthattheestablishmenthadcertainlynosuchintention;-basinandlookedatit;hepickedupthesalt-cellarandlookedatthat, , andhurryingaway, -basinandthenthesalt-cellar;theproprietoralsolookedbewildered.
