As Marie Pascal pronounced that name, an expression of sinister joy came into the eyes of Mother Citron: "That's a good idea," she exclaimed. Marie hesitated: "I would never dare go to see him alone." "Marie Pascal, you know how fond of you I am, and as sure as I'm called Mother Citron, I'll prove what I say. In a couple of minutes I'll put on my hat with the flowers and leave my workwoman in charge here. Then I'll take you myself to this M. Juve... if you're afraid of him, I'm not!" CHAPTER XXIX COMPROMISING DISCOVERIES Fandor, smoking a good cigar, walked to the Rue Monceau, taking deep breaths of the fresh air, looking up with delight at the blue sky. After his imprisonment and slow torture he experienced an extraordinary joy in living and in his freedom. When he reached the house he found the concierge's office empty. He called out several times. "I'm the concierge, what is it you want?" a voice answered behind him. Fandor turned sharply: "Ah, there you are, Madame, I didn't see you." It would have surprised the journalist had he known that the extraordinary Mme. Citron a moment before had been comfortably installed in the Marquis de Serac's apartment, and that hearing herself called, she had slid down her communicating post to answer the summons. Still further was he from imagining that the Marquis de Serac and Mme. Citron were one and the same person. "Well, now that I'm here, what is it you want?" Madame Citron recognized Fandor. But she recognized him as being some one he was not. She had, indeed, only seen him for a few moments immediately after the murder of Susy d'Orsel. "I want to see Mlle. Marie Pascal. She lives here, doesn't she?" "Yes, Monsieur, but ..." "Is she at home?" "What is it about?" Fandor answered casually: "I have an order to give her." "Then, if Monsieur will leave it with me..." "Why? Isn't Mlle. Marie Pascal here?" "No, Monsieur." "Will she be long away?" "I'm afraid she will." "All right, I'll come back about six o'clock. I must see her personally, I have a number of details to explain." Mme. Ceiron shook her head. "I don't think you'll find her." "Why not?" "Well, she's in the country." "Will she be away for several days?" "I expect so." Fandor decided to burn his bridges. "Look here, it's not about an order; I'm sent here by Juve, you know him?" "The detective?" "Yes, Madame, the detective." Madame Ceiron appeared to be very disturbed. "Oh! I shall get jaundice from all this bother. I can't even sleep in peace. It'll end in them suspecting me, I know it will." "No, no, Madame, I assure you...."