t meeting. The boy
at once saw the full bearing of it. After an exchange of compliments,
he said to Shears:

"I suppose that you are here--because of 'him'?"

"Yes."

"So--so--you think we have a chance--in this direction."

"I'm sure of it."

Beautrelet's delight at finding that Shears's opinion agreed with his
own was not unmingled with other feelings. If the Englishman attained
his object, it meant that, at the very best, the two would share the
victory; and who could tell that Shears would not attain it first?

"Have you any proofs? Any clues?"

"Don't be afraid," grinned the Englishman, who understood his
uneasiness. "I am not treading on your heels. With you, it's the
document, the pamphlet: things that do not inspire me with any great
confidence."

"And with you?"

"With me, it's something different."

"Should I be indiscreet, if--?"

"Not at all. You remember the story of the coronet, the story of the
Duc de Charmerac?"[7]

[7] Arsene Lupin, play in four acts, by Maurice Leblanc and
Francis de Croisset.

"Yes."

"You remember Victoire, Lupin's old foster-mother, the one whom my good
friend Ganimard allowed to escape in a sham prison-van?"

"Yes."

"I have found Victoire's traces. She lives on a farm, not far from
National Road No. 25. National Road No. 25 is the road from the Havre
to Lille. Through Victoire I shall easily get at Lupin."

"It will take long."

"No matter! I have dropped all my cases. This is the only one I care
about. Between Lupin and me, it's a fight--a fight to the death."

He spoke these words with a sort of ferocity that betrayed all his
bitterness at the humiliations which he had undergone, all his fierce
hatred of the great enemy who had tricked him so cruelly.

"Go away, now," he whispered, "we are observed. It's dangerous. But
mark my words: on the day when Lupin and I meet face to face, it will
be--it will be tragic."

Beautrelet felt quite reassured on leaving Shears: he need not fear
that the Englishman would gain on him. And here was one more proof
which this chance interview had brought him: the road from the Havre to
Lille passes through Dieppe! It is the great seaside road of the Caux
country, the coast road commanding the Channel cliffs! And it was on a
farm near this road that Victoire was installed, Victoire, that is to
say, Lupin, for one did not move without the other, the master without
the blindly devoted servant.

"I'm burning! I'm burn