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Fandor moved away and after glancing back to make sure Wulf was obeying orders, he quickly drew his revolver and approached the works. "I must remember Juve's precept," he muttered, "never fire first, and then only when you're sure to hit." The journalist now examined the palisade which surrounded a ditch of some depth dug in the angle made by the Orangery walls.

Juve's smile was a masterpiece of hypocrisy. "Why, old fellow, you must wake up! We must go aboard our boat!" The corporal heard men shouting: "Steamer Victoria for Ostend! Steamer Empress for Calais!" "We must hurry!" cried Juve, pushing the bemused Butler-Vinson out of the compartment. There was a sea fog growing denser every minute.

"Well, I believe in the arrest that is certain; but whether we shall find the diamond is another matter." Juve's first impulse was to make himself known to his chief; but on second thoughts he decided to keep silent. He had gathered from the conversation that the arrest of Fantômas was imminent. That, of course, was satisfactory in every respect.

On the other hand, if they knew that Juve was not Fantômas, why the devil had this suicide story been invented? A new idea suddenly flashed through Juve's mind. "Suppose that not only the people of Hesse-Weimar but also the Government have been fooled!" A glimpse caught of Prince Gudulfin descending from the private car at the Hesse-Weimar station, was sufficient to start this train of thought.

But now that we are snug and comfortable here, I've no right to keep you waiting any longer, and I'll give you a bit of good news." "Snug" and "comfortable" were the right words with which to describe Juve's private abode.

"In the name of the law! Open! Open! Open!... The police!" A bare three minutes had elapsed between Juve's first summons and the opening of the library door. Vagualame had made profitable use of the three minutes. "Don't utter a sound! Don't be afraid!" Vagualame had repeated to Bobinette: "They will not take us this time!"

"By the way," pursued M. Annion, oblivious of Juve's trouble, "you didn't happen to learn any details concerning the King's toilette at Glotzbourg?" "No, why?" "Oh, nothing of importance. I should like to have known whether it was a fact that Frederick-Christian wore an 18-inch collar. It would merely have been another proof." The words literally stupefied the detective.

Perceiving that he was face to face with a disguised man, Juve was about to hurl himself on this masquerader, when that individual, forestalling the detective's movement, seized the initiative with lightning rapidity. He tore his hand from Juve's tenacious grip, bounded to the mantelpiece, threw down the lamp with a jerk of his elbow, thrust Juve violently aside, and rushed to the door.

So now, to all the entreaties of the caller, Juve's servant stolidly replied with the assurance that his master would see no one; yet the visitor's insistence was so great that at last the servant was prevailed upon to bring in his card, albeit with some fear as to the consequences for himself.

The first bundle caught Juve's attention. It was endorsed "Royal Palace Hotel Case." "Anything new about the robbery from Mme. Van den Rosen and Princess Sonia Danidoff?" he enquired, and as the magistrate shook his head, he added, "Are you going to examine Muller now?" "Yes," said the magistrate; "at once."