and carried
off the men from the detention cells, under the very nose and eyes of
the superintendent himself!"

"What became of the stolen Basket?" snapped Fandor.

"It was found at dawn near the fortifications, and, need I say--empty!"

"So that Jules has escaped?"

"As you say!..."

"And the car which intentionally knocked my Salad Basket out of
action--whose was it?"

Monsieur Fuselier smiled.

"Oh, it's a queer affair, in fact, it may lead to the wind-up of all the
Dollon business--we may now get to the bottom of that series of
crimes!... You will never guess who is the owner of that car,
Fandor?..."

"No, I am no good at guessing riddles just now ... besides, I hate
them!" Fandor was nettled, exasperated!

"We got the number of the car from a witness of the smash-up; and we
have verified its correctness. Well, my dear fellow, the owner of that
car is--Thomery!"

"Thomery!" gasped Fandor.

"Yes. I have summoned him to appear before me--the summons has just been
issued. Between you and me, I think Thomery is guilty. When he appears
here, in, say an hour from now, I shall issue a writ of arrest against
this sugar refiner financier, and we don't know what else!"

But, no sooner had Monsieur Fuselier finished his statement--a statement
which he fully expected would strike his young reporter friend dumb with
amazement--than Fandor threw himself back in his chair and roared with
laughter.

The magistrate was taken aback!...

"But ... what the devil do you find to laugh at in that?"

Fandor had already checked his hilarity.

"Oh, it's nothing! Only, Fuselier, I ask myself, if really and truly,
Monsieur Thomery, who is a very big fellow solidly built, has been able
to discover a dodge, by means of which he can leave Jacques Dollon's
imprints here, there and everywhere!"

"But he does not leave Jacques Dollon's imprints, because Dollon is
living, because he came to see his sister--why, you admitted that
yourself!"

"Why, of course! It's true!... Jacques Dollon is alive.... I had
forgotten.... Thomery can only be his accomplice then!" declared Fandor.
And as Monsieur Fuselier stared at him, astonished at the way he had
received the sensational news of the night, Fandor rose to take his
leave.

"My dear Fuselier, will you allow me to express my opinion?..."

Monsieur Fuselier nodded.

"Well, I am sure, that with regard to this affair, there are more
surprises in store for us: you have not got the