He connected all of the items with a web of red lines - to try to piece together the puzzling evidence and information.He brought luxurious gifts for family members:Prince August - a pipe, and a medallion with a portrait of the Russian EmpressSophia - sable furs ("to keep your shoulders warm"), gloves ("to keep your hands warm"), and a robe ("to keep your feet warm")Sophia""s mother - a hot water bottle ("to keep Mother warm")The journey to Moscow in the wintry, ice-bound Russia was expected to take seven weeks, and would begin in two days ("the day after tomorrow").Robie is first introduced in the form of his own black cat that lounges on his sofa next to a paw-scratched edition of the HERALD TRIBUNE, with a report of the series of new thefts of the wealthy in Cannes.Two street-cars pass by in the street below, as Mac works (with his white dental jacket clearly visible through the bay window on the second floor of the building at the intersection) upstairs on a patient in the dental chair.