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The saleswoman was full of delighted protestations. Though satisfied with a decision that simplified her task, she was surprised that a young girl as free to act and order as Mademoiselle de Naarboveck seemed to be, did not take interest in the details of a fête which, as rumour had it, was given in her honour.
Fandor stifled a sigh of satisfaction: it was a jailor who did not know him: it was the substitute counted upon. "Ah!" cried he, saluting the gentlemen of the long robe: "Why, there are two of you!" "Naturally," replied de Naarboveck: "Did not your colleague let you know that my secretary had joined me?" "I knew he was coming, but I did not understand that he had already come," replied the man.
De Naarboveck was moving hither and thither in the studio: at the same time he was observing Fandor, listening to what he had to say: he seemed to be reading Fandor's thoughts.
"Your friend, Juve, has been hotly pursuing this Vagualame for some time," remarked De Naarboveck: "Famous detective as he is, he has suffered more than one check, has been routed, rebuffed, discomfited, on several occasions by this same Vagualame, who has proved that he is not such a fool as he looks! Possibly Juve will soon have a further opportunity of realising the truth of this however."...
A man of a certain age descended from it, and vanished in the shadow of a doorway: the door had opened as the carriage stopped. "That's de Naarboveck," thought Fandor. Then he saw the carriage turn and move away. "The carriage goes in: the master does not go out again," deduced Fandor. A short time after, the chauffeur, having taken off his livery, came out of the house and went away.
"The opening of the prison door is our next difficulty to be overcome," whispered de Naarboveck: "I warned the jailor that I expected my secretary. Let us hope he will take you as such and let us pass out unmolested." The military prison of the Council of War of Paris is not like other prisons: that is why de Naarboveck's plan had a fair chance of success.
But I do not see what you are driving at." "At this," replied the detective. "Captain Brocq's mistress must be looked for, not among women of the lower orders, but among those of a higher class, who are more outwardly correct, at any rate, more women of the world. Among those with whom Brocq was on friendly terms, was the family of an old diplomat of Austrian extraction, a Monsieur de Naarboveck.
Fandor repeated to himself the final words of his chief's instructions. "Interview Baron de Naarboveck; get into touch with a young person called Bobinette; find out who and what are the frequenters of the house where this well-known diplomat lives."
Wilhelmine de Naarboveck appeared in the doorway, staring at the disorder organised by Juve.... Juve paused: speech failed him at sight of her. "Monsieur Juve," said she, in quite ordinary tones: "I am so glad I have found you! The Baron de Naarboveck has sent me to you."... "Who sent you, did you say, Mademoiselle?" Juve started forward. "The Baron de Naarboveck asks for me?... Where?
He had said to himself after that, "De Naarboveck, Vagualame, Fantômas, are but one." Juve had reassured de Loubersac: he declared that Wilhelmine had spoken the truth, that she certainly was Thérèse Auvernois and the most honest girl in the world. Juve calmed and finally convinced de Loubersac.
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