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Get me information also about someone called Alfred." "I know him, Lieutenant, pardon Monsieur Henri a letter-box a go-between." "We must know exactly the nature of the relations between Corporal V. and the late Captain Brocq." These last words particularly interested Vagualame: he drew nearer still to de Loubersac, tapping him on the knee.
Whilst Juve and Henri de Loubersac were watching through the midnight hours for the arrival of the traitors, Fandor in his hotel was also on the alert. He did not mean to sleep a wink. The noise of the merry-making below helped him in that.... The revellers retired at last, and silence fell on The Flowery Crossways.
"By what chance?" began de Loubersac. Bobinette interrupted: "It is rather I who might ask you that, Monsieur Henri!... As for me, I have been spending four days with my family at Rouen.... I asked for a holiday and Monsieur de Naarboveck very kindly granted it ... but you?" De Loubersac was nervously chewing the end of his blonde moustache.
Whilst Juve returned to the jetty to await the departure of the excursion steamer, Henri de Loubersac, alone in his compartment, reflected sadly on his relations with Wilhelmine.... He had loved her a long time. A frank, a sincere affection for her had gradually grown into a love which filled his whole heart and mind. Juve's words had troubled him profoundly.
Nichoune is the mistress of Corporal V. he is on leave, the corporal is."... "I know, he is in Paris." "Well, then, what do you wish me to do?" "You must go to Châlons and make an exhaustive enquiry into the relations of V.... with Nichoune. V. was eaten up with debts." "He has settled them," remarked Vagualame. "Ah!" Lieutenant de Loubersac was rather taken aback. "Well, find out how and why.
"Proofs?... I have none," replied the mysterious old fellow. "But I have intuitions; better still, my confidence is grounded on a strong probability." This statement came to de Loubersac with the force of a stunning blow: it came from one whom he considered his best agent: he knew Vagualame always weighed his words: his information was generally correct.
"And," continued de Loubersac, with a smile, "as it is probable the murderer of Captain Brocq and Nichoune is none other than the individual who stole our document."... "By uniting our efforts," finished Juve, "we have every chance of discovering the one and the other." There was a pause.
"Excellent!" declared the colonel. Pointing a threatening finger at Muller. "You know our standing orders here! Many acquaintances very few intimates: no mistress." The colonel did not remain alone in his office long. He sent for Lieutenant de Loubersac. With a soldier's punctuality he appeared before his chief. He was in uniform.
Fandor would have liked to find out the exact nature of Bobinette's intimacy with the ill-fated officer, also to what extent she was in love with Henri de Loubersac; but, as she showed by her manner that she did not relish this talk, either because of the turn it had taken, or because it was held in a public place, Fandor had to take his leave. Bobinette went off.
"Ah, Monsieur Juve, how delighted I am to see you!... But I was forgetting.... Monsieur Lépine was looking for you just now!"... Juve was facing beaming Lieutenant de Loubersac. "I will go to him at once ... but let me take this opportunity of congratulating you, my dear Lieutenant."...
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