andlatelythethoughthadcometohimthatperhapsIreneknewshewasbeingshadowed：Itwasthiswhichfinallydecidedhimtogoandseeforhimself；togoandoncemoretrytobreakdownherrepugnance，herrefusaltomakeherownandhispathcomparativelysmoothoncemore。Ifhefailedagain——well，hewouldseewhatshedidwithherself，anyway！
HewenttoanhotelintheRueCaumartin，highlyrecommendedtoForsytes，wherepracticallynobodyspokeFrench。Hehadformednoplan。Hedidnotwanttostartleher；yetmustcontrivethatshehadnochancetoevadehimbyflight。Andnextmorninghesetoutinbrightweather。
Parishadanairofgaiety，asparkleoveritsstar-shapewhichalmostannoyedSoames。Hesteppedgravely，hisnoseliftedalittlesidewaysinrealcuriosity。HedesirednowtounderstandthingsFrench。WasnotAnnetteFrench?Therewasmuchtobegotoutofhisvisit，ifhecouldonlygetit。InthislaudablemoodandthePlacedelaConcordehewasnearlyrundownthreetimes。
Hecameonthe’CourslaReine，’whereIrene’shotelwassituated，almosttoosuddenly，forhehadnotyetfixedonhisprocedure。
Crossingovertotheriverside，henotedthebuilding，whiteandcheerful-looking，withgreensunblinds，seenthroughascreenofplane-treeleaves。And，consciousthatitwouldbefarbettertomeethercasuallyinsomeopenplacethantoriskacall，hesatdownonabenchwhencehecouldwatchtheentrance。Itwasnotquiteeleveno’clock，andimprobablethatshehadyetgoneout。