tle man bowed and said, "Charmed, charmed to make your
acquaintance, your Grace--though the occasion--the occasion is somewhat
painful. 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.

"Yes, sir," said the inspector. "These two rooms seem to be the only
ones touched, though of course we can't tell till M. Gournay-Martin
arrives. Jewels may have been stolen from the bedrooms."

"I fear that M. Gournay-Martin won't be of much help for some days,"
said the Duke. "When I left him he was nearly distracted; and he won't
be any better after a night journey to Paris from Charmerace. But
probably these are the only two rooms touched, for in them M.
Gournay-Martin had gathered together the gems of his collection. Over
the doors hung some pieces of Flemish tapestry--marvels--the
composition admirable--the colouring delightful."

"It is easy to see that your Grace was very fond of them," said M.
Formery.

"I should think so," said the Duke. "I looked on them as already
belonging to me, for my father-in-law was going to give them to me as a
wedding present."

"A great loss--a great loss. But we will recover them, sooner or later,
you can rest assured of it. I hope you have touched nothing in this
room. If anything has been moved it may put me off the scent
altogether. Let me have the details, inspector."

The inspector reported the arrival of the Duke at the police-station
with Arsene Lupin's letter to M. Gournay-Martin; the discovery that the
keys had been changed and would not open the door of the house; the
opening of it by the locksmith; the discovery of the concierge and his
wife gagged and bound.

"Probably accomplices," said M. Formery.

"Does Lupin always work with accomplices?" said the Duke. "Pardon my
ignorance--but I've been out of France for so long--before he attained
to this height of notoriety."

"Lupin--why Lupin?" said M. Formery sharply.

"Why, there is the letter from Lupin which my future father-in-law
received last night; its arrival was followed by the theft of his two
swiftest motor-cars; and then, these signatures on the wall here," said
the Duke in som