to see
this fellow!" said the Duke.

"We shall see him to-night," said Guerchard.

"To-night?" said the Duke.

"Of course we shall; for he will come to steal the coronet between a
quarter to twelve and midnight," said Guerchard.

"Never!" said the Duke. "You don't really believe that he'll have the
cheek to attempt such a mad act?"

"Ah, you don't know this man, your Grace ... his extraordinary mixture
of coolness and audacity. It's the danger that attracts him. He throws
himself into the fire, and he doesn't get burnt. For the last ten years
I've been saying to myself, 'Here we are: this time I've got him! ...
At last I'm going to nab him.' But I've said that day after day," said
Guerchard; and he paused.

"Well?" said the Duke.

"Well, the days pass; and I never nab him. Oh, he is thick, I tell
you.... He's a joker, he is ... a regular artist"--he ground his
teeth--"The damned thief!"

The Duke looked at him, and said slowly, "Then you think that to-night
Lupin--"

"You've followed the scent with me, your Grace," Guerchard interrupted
quickly and vehemently. "We've picked up each clue together. You've
almost seen this man at work.... You've understood him. Isn't a man
like this, I ask you, capable of anything?"

"He is," said the Duke, with conviction.

"Well, then," said Guerchard.

"Perhaps you're right," said the Duke.

Guerchard turned to Dieusy and said, in a quieter voice, "And when the
scavenger had picked up the cigarette, did he follow the motorist?"

"Yes, he followed him for about a hundred yards. He went down into
Sureau Street, and turned westwards. Then a motor-car came along; he
got into it, and went off."

"What kind of a motor-car?" said Guerchard.

"A big car, and dark red in colour," said Dieusy.

"The Limousine!" cried the Duke.

"That's all I've got so far, sir," said Dieusy.

"Well, off you go," said Guerchard. "Now that you've got started,
you'll probably get something else before very long."

Dieusy saluted and went.

"Things are beginning to move," said Guerchard cheerfully. "First
Victoire, and now this motor-van."

"They are indeed," said the Duke.

"After all, it ought not to be very difficult to trace that motor-van,"
said Guerchard, in a musing tone. "At any rate, its movements ought to
be easy enough to follow up till about six. Then, of course, there
would be a good many others about, delivering goods."

"You seem to have all the possible information yo