esence of every stranger in Toulon. It was
careless to send both telegrams from Brussels, but a coincidence so
small might easily be overlooked. On one point only was there an
oversight--they did not foresee that we might trace them by means of the
money. There is our hope. Sooner or later, the man with the white hair
will spend another of his hundred-franc notes. There is a certain
justice in it," he added, "that he should be betrayed by his
blood-money."

"Yes, blood-money!" cried Delcasse. "That is the word for it! Oh, that I
had my hands on the monster--for he _is_ a monster, Lepine; he must be a
monster! There he sat, in cold blood, and loosed the power that killed
three hundred men! Have you considered, Lepine, that the finding of this
second installation furnishes, as Crochard foresaw, proof of his
theory?"

"Yes," said Lepine, in a low voice; "this is the proof."

Delcasse was on his feet, striding savagely up and down the room.

"But it is absurd," he cried, "it is incredible that here, under our
very noses, such things should take place! What are our police for,
Lepine--our secret service?"

"It is the fault of that miserable landlord," Lepine pointed out.

"Of him an example shall be made. But that does not help us. This man
must not escape! Think what it may mean for France if he escapes!"

"I have thought, sir!" and Lepine's voice was trembling.

Delcasse turned on him fiercely.

"Where is Crochard?" he demanded. "What is he doing all this time?"

"I do not know, sir. I have not seen him since yesterday."

"Rest assured that he has not been idle. Do you know where to find him?"

"I have his address."

"Go to him, then, and say I wish to see him. We must lay these
discoveries before him--though no doubt he has already made them for
himself. Tell him he must not desert us--that without him, we are lost!"

Lepine was grateful for the darkness, for his cheeks were red with
humiliation. But, after all, M. Delcasse was right. He rose with a sigh.

"I will seek him at once, sir," he said.

"Understand well, Lepine," said the Minister, more gently, "it is not
you I blame. You have done all that is possible with the means at your
command. But we cannot afford to fail. In an affair of this kind, the
public is not reasonable. Should we fail, and should our failure become
known, as it almost surely would, the ministry might find itself swept
away before the storm. So we must find Crochard."

"I agre