tempt in his
voice:

"You think you will extract information from that quarter, do you?"

"But why not? Why not?" interrupted the dapper Monsieur Fuselier, in a
sprightly tone; and, leaving Fandor abruptly, he leapt into a passing
tramcar.

Fandor watched Fuselier cross the road and climb to an outside seat.
Whilst the magistrate waved a friendly farewell from the top of the
disappearing car, Fandor shrugged disdainful shoulders, and, with
pitying lips, muttered one word:

"Fool!"

XVIII

AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TRUNK

After Monsieur Fuselier's departure, Fandor rejoined Madame Bourrat on
the boulevard. The good woman was very much upset by the dramatic scene
she had witnessed. She had sent off her manservant, and was preparing to
take the tram back to Auteuil. Fandor asked if he might accompany her,
and Madame Bourrat was only too delighted to have a chance of further
talk with the journalist, for she had a lively desire to learn all she
could about the extraordinary drama in which she found herself involved.

When they arrived at Auteuil, Madame Bourrat had learned nothing
definite, for the journalist had given only evasive answers to her
questions. Still, one point was obvious: Madame Bourrat considered
Monsieur Jerome Fandor as the most amiable man in the world, and she was
disposed to help him to the utmost of her powers, in defence of any
interests he wished to safeguard....

Madame Bourrat was absolutely set on receiving Monsieur Fandor in her
private apartments. She then seized the opportunity to complain of the
trouble this affair had brought into her regular and peaceful existence.
Certainly, in summer, her boarders were less numerous; their numbers
being, in fact, reduced to two or three.

This season there had been fewer than usual; but the accident, or
attempted assassination of Mademoiselle Dollon, had undoubtedly brought
discredit on the house. An old paralysed gentleman, who had been in
residence on the day of the drama, had departed the day after. There
was not a single boarder in the house: it was empty.

* * * * *

Having made certain that her manservant, Jules, and her cook, Marianne,
had retired to their respective rooms, Madame Bourrat conducted Fandor
as far as the door of her dwelling. They had been so interested in their
talk, that they had forgotten all about dinner: their experiences of the
past few hours had left them with little appetite. I