. "This fellow pleases me! He has the same
opinion of this dolt of a Jules as I have!"

Revolver in hand, Fandor was on the alert. The moment they lifted up the
compartment out he would jump. Just then, Madame Bourrat could be heard
approaching.

"Confound it! We shall not have time to go through everything!"
muttered a voice. The trunk cover was hastily closed.

Fandor heard Madame Bourrat enter the room with slow, heavy step.

"Here are ink and paper, messieurs!" she said.

Then the pretended police inspector made a statement that startled the
concealed Fandor.

"Madame, we have no time, nor are we able to make a minute investigation
now. Besides, with one exception, there does not seem to be anything
suspicious about the room; but here is a trunk which contains papers of
great importance. We are going to take it to the police station."

"As you please," replied Madame Bourrat. "I ask only one thing and that
is to be left in peace. I do not want to hear anything more about this
abominable affair!"

A rapid turn of the key given to each of the locks and Fandor knew that
he was now a prisoner! Brave as he was, he felt a rush of blood to his
heart and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Dash it all! I am in an awful position! Impossible to move! If these
brutes suspected they had me tight in here they would pitch me into the
river as sure as Fate! Then good-bye to _La Capitale_!"

Then, before Fandor's mental vision rose a sweet consoling figure, the
figure of the girl for whom he was braving danger, for love of whom--he
certainly did love her--he had placed himself in such a serious
position.... Then all that was optimistic in his nature--and that was
much--rose to the surface, and declared the dilemma was not as serious
as it seemed.... How could the bandits know of his presence in the
trunk? They never would think Jerome Fandor so stupid as to shut himself
up in the trap!

"Jules and I might shake hands as equals in folly!" concluded Fandor....
Just then the trunk began to move. They were trying to lift it. Whilst
trying to preserve an unstable equilibrium, he said to himself in a
satisfied way:

"And just to think now that they have not rummaged in the chest of
drawers, nor have they seized the tell-tale piece of soap!... It's true
that Fuselier alone knows of its being there--I was careful not to tell
anyone else.... But, where the deuce are they going? It's the stairs, of
course! It might be a