ds, and so dear!

It was not a farewell he took--it was a veritable flight he took from
the girl who now meant so much to him!

Leaving the prison, Fandor walked straight ahead, thinking aloud.

"It is clear--evident! The Barbey-Nanteuils have sold Thomery shares to
be paid up on a certain date. Thomery was murdered so that his shares
should fall to zero, and so that the Barbey-Nanteuils should realise
enormous sums at their monthly clearance. Next Saturday, the coffers of
the Barbey-Nanteuil bank will be full of gold, and this same Saturday is
the last day of May, the fatal day inscribed on the list. Yes, this
coming Saturday, they will pillage the Barbey-Nanteuil bank!"

XXV

A MOUSE TRAP

Jerome Fandor had been ringing Juve's door bell in vain: the great
detective was not at home.

"What the deuce is he doing? What has become of him? Never have I needed
his advice as I need it now!... His support, encouragement--what a
comfort they would be!... It is possible he would have dissuaded me
against the attempt--or, he might have joined forces with me! Hang it
all! It was a jolly bad move on Juve's part to make himself scarce at
such a critical moment for me!... It is a long time, too, since I had
news of him! Were I not certain that he has sound reasons for his
absence--Juve never acts haphazard--I should be desperately anxious!"

Fandor consulted his watch--four o'clock! He had time then! He could
think over all the dramatic events in which he had been involved during
the past weeks, beginning with the rue Norvins affair, and ending--how,
and when?

At last, our journalist arrived before the immense building which forms
the corner of the rue de Clichy. He saw, in front of him, the tall
windows of the flat occupied by Nanteuil: on the ground floor were the
bank offices.

"Well," thought Fandor, "I certainly am going to do an unconventional
thing. If my summing up of them is right, these bankers are balanced,
calm, cold, without imagination, and distrusting it in others. I shall
have to be eloquent to convince them, to make them listen to me and get
them to do what I want. Will they show me the door, as though I were an
intriguer or a madman?... I shall not let them do it!... Ah, they will
owe me a fine candle if I have the good luck.... Whether there will be
good luck for my venture, and gratitude from the bankers, remains to be
seen.... Here goes!..."

* * * * *

Sea