learnt that a motor-van was waiting outside the
next house--in the side street," he said.

"At what time?" said Guerchard.

"Between four and five in the morning," said Dieusy.

"Who saw it?" said Guerchard.

"A scavenger. He thinks that it was nearly five o'clock when the van
drove off."

"Between four and five--nearly five. Then they filled up the opening
before they loaded the van. I thought they would," said Guerchard,
thoughtfully. "Anything else?"

"A few minutes after the van had gone a man in motoring dress came out
of the house," said Dieusy.

"In motoring dress?" said Guerchard quickly.

"Yes. And a little way from the house he threw away his cigarette. The
scavenger thought the whole business a little queer, and he picked up
the cigarette and kept it. Here it is."

He handed it to Guerchard, whose eyes scanned it carelessly and then
glued themselves to it.

"A gold-tipped cigarette ... marked Mercedes ... Why, your Grace, this
is one of your cigarettes!"

"But this is incredible!" cried the Duke.

"Not at all," said Guerchard. "It's merely another link in the chain.
I've no doubt you have some of these cigarettes at Charmerace."

"Oh, yes, I've had a box on most of the tables," said the Duke.

"Well, there you are," said Guerchard.

"Oh, I see what you're driving at," said the Duke. "You mean that one
of the Charolais must have taken a box."

"Well, we know that they'd hardly stick at a box of cigarettes," said
Guerchard.

"Yes ... but I thought ..." said the Duke; and he paused.

"You thought what?" said Guerchard.

"Then Lupin ... since it was Lupin who managed the business last
night--since you found those salvias in the house next door ... then
Lupin came from Charmerace."

"Evidently," said Guerchard.

"And Lupin is one of the Charolais."

"Oh, that's another matter," said Guerchard.

"But it's certain, absolutely certain," said the Duke. "We have the
connecting links ... the salvias ... this cigarette."

"It looks very like it. You're pretty quick on a scent, I must say,"
said Guerchard. "What a detective you would have made! Only ... nothing
is certain."

"But it IS. Whatever more do you want? Was he at Charmerace yesterday,
or was he not? Did he, or did he not, arrange the theft of the
motor-cars?"

"Certainly he did. But he himself might have remained in the background
all the while," said Guerchard.

"In what shape? ... Under what mask? ... By Jove, I should like