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The treasures of M. Gournay-Martin are known to all the world. France will deplore his losses." He paused, and added hastily, "But we shall recover them we shall recover them." The Duke rose, bowed, and protested his pleasure at making the acquaintance of M. Formery. "Is this the scene of the robbery, inspector?" said M. Formery; and he rubbed his hands together with a very cheerful air.
I drove it to Paris, leaving M. Gournay-Martin and his family to come on by train." "Very important very important indeed," said M. Formery. He thought for a moment, and then added. "Were the motor-cars the only things stolen? Were there no other thefts?" "Well, as a matter of fact, there was another theft, or rather an attempt at theft," said the Duke with some hesitation.
"Oh, well, I dare say that he thought to-morrow would do. Of course you were out of the house when he found it. She must have slipped out of her room soon after you went." "He found a handkerchief belonging to Mademoiselle Kritchnoff. Where is it?" cried Guerchard. "M. Formery took the pearls, but he left the handkerchief. I suppose it's in the corner where he found it," said the Duke.
"You were going out, I think," said Guerchard gently. "I was asking leave to go out. There is some shopping that must be done," said Sonia. "You do not see any reason why Mademoiselle Kritchnoff should not go out, M. Formery, do you?" said Guerchard. "Oh, no, none whatever; of course she can go out," said M. Formery. Sonia turned round to go. "One moment," said Guerchard, coming for-ward.
"Where is he?" said M. Formery. "Why did you let him go?" "Shall I send for him, sir?" said the inspector. "No, no, it doesn't matter," said M. Formery; and, turning to M. Gournay-Martin and the Duke, he said, "Now we're really going to have trouble with Guerchard. He is going to muddle up everything. This telegram will be the last straw.
He saluted Guerchard, and said to M. Formery, "I have just found this scrap of cloth on the edge of the well at the bottom of the garden. The concierge's wife tells me that it has been torn from Victoire's dress." "I feared it," said M. Formery, taking the scrap of cloth from Mm. "I feared foul play. We must go to the well at once, send some one down it, or have it dragged."
"The Republican Law, M. Formery? I am a Royalist," said the Duke, smiling at him. M. Formery shook his head sadly. "I was wondering," said the Duke, "about M. Guerchard's theory that the burglars were let in the front door of this house by an accomplice. Why, when they had this beautiful large opening, did they want a front door, too?"
Guerchard's head popped up above the window-sill: "My dear M. Formery," he said, "I beg that you will not take the trouble." M. Formery's mouth opened: "What! You, Guerchard?" he stammered. "Myself," said Guerchard; and he came to the top of the ladder and slipped lightly over the window-sill into the room. He shook hands with M. Formery and nodded to the inspector.
Guerchard said that he had three men at work on the search, and that he was hopeful of getting some news before long. "The layman is impatient in these matters," said M. Formery, with an indulgent smile. "But we have learnt to be patient, after long experience." He proceeded to discuss with Guerchard the new theories with which the discovery of the afternoon had filled his mind.
This is beginning to look a very complicated business," said M. Formery gravely. "Perhaps Guerchard will be able to throw a little more light on it," said the Duke. M. Formery frowned and said, "Yes, yes. Guerchard is a good assistant in a business like this. A little visionary, a little fanciful wrong-headed, in fact; but, after all, he IS Guerchard.
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