"Of course, the truth was bound to be discovered sooner or later," said the fat gentleman, in a tone of conviction. The infantry corporal, dazzled by the captain's rank, did not entertain a doubt in his mind. The lady with the little dog wanted to know if Captain Jeanniot was young. But Louise d'Ernemont said: "And suppose he does not come?" "We shall still have the five thousand francs to divide," said the beggar-man. For all that, Louise d'Ernemont's words had damped their enthusiasm. Their faces began to look sullen and I felt an atmosphere as of anguish weighing upon us. At half-past one, the two lean sisters felt faint and sat down. Then the fat gentleman in the soiled suit suddenly rounded on the notary: "It's you, Maitre Valandier, who are to blame.... You ought to have brought the captain here by main force.... He's a humbug, that's quite clear." He gave me a savage look, and the footman, in his turn, flung muttered curses at me. I confess that their reproaches seemed to me well-founded and that Lupin's absence annoyed me greatly: "He won't come now," I whispered to the lawyer. And I was thinking of beating a retreat, when the eldest of the brats appeared at the door, yelling: "There's some one coming!... A motor-cycle!..." A motor was throbbing on the other side of the wall. A man on a motor-bicycle came tearing down the lane at the risk of breaking his neck. Suddenly, he put on his brakes, outside the door, and sprang from his machine. Under the layer of dust which covered him from head to foot, we could see that his navy-blue reefer-suit, his carefully creased trousers, his black felt hat and patent-leather boots were not the clothes in which a man usually goes cycling. "But that's not Captain Jeanniot!" shouted the notary, who failed to recognize him. "Yes, it is," said Lupin, shaking hands with us. "I'm Captain Jeanniot right enough ... only I've shaved off my moustache.... Besides, Maitre Valandier, here's your receipt." He caught one of the workman's children by the arm and said: "Run to the cab-rank and fetch a taxi to the corner of the Rue Raynouard. Look sharp! I have an urgent appointment to keep at two o'clock, or a quarter-past at the latest." There was a murmur of protest. Captain Jeanniot took out his watch: "Well! It's only twelve minutes to two! I have a good quarter of an hour before me. But, by Jingo, how tired I feel! And how hungry into the bargain!" The corporal thrust his ammunition-bread into Lupin's hand; and he munched away at it as he sat down and said: