Juve and Fandor remained silent and motionless for some moments. They might well be perturbed, for they had just entered the house in the most unwarrantable manner, and they knew the doctor to be at home. The lodge-keeper of the Cité had seen him return about two hours ago. For one moment Juve had asked himself whether he should not ring in the most natural manner in the world, and afterwards contrive some explanation; but the silence, the peace which prevailed and the conviction that Doctor Chaleck, quite off his guard, must be enjoying deep slumber, prompted him to try and get into the house unannounced. If the door was only bolted, if it was not secured from within by a latch, the officer might reckon on finding among his pass keys one that would allow him to open it. Juve was, indeed, equipped like the prince of burglars. Well, the attempt had succeeded. Without trouble or noise, journalist and officer had made their way into the place. Before imparting to Fandor his plan of operations, Juve handed him a pair of rubbers, and then at a signal they both ascended to the first floor. The detective's plan was to make a sudden incursion into Chaleck's bedroom, and in the surprise of a sudden awakening, question him and inspect the fingers of his right hand, which, presumably, had left on the register a tell-tale trace of blood. Juve had scarcely entered the room when Fandor switched on the lights; the two men started back in disgust; the room was empty! Without pause, Juve cried: "To the study!" A moment later they found themselves in the room they knew so well from having spent a whole night there, behind the window curtains. Chaleck was not there either. Fandor searched the bathroom near by, careless of the noise he made, then hurried after Juve to the floor below in the fear that the doctor might already have made his escape. Juve quickly reassured him the windows and shutters of the rooms were hermetically closed; the hall door had not been touched. Suddenly slight sounds became audible from the floor above. A crackling of the boards, the muffled sounds of hasty footsteps, faint rustlings. "Chaleck knows we are here," whispered Juve. "We must play with our cards on the table." The two men cocked their pistols and made a rush upstairs. They had left the electric light burning on the floor above, and at first their eyes were dazzled by the sudden brightness, multiplied by the reflection from the glass which lined the octagonal-shaped landing. Again the noises were heard. Chaleck or some one else was in the study. Juve disappeared. In half a minute he returned and bumped into Fandor. "Where are you coming from?" he cried. "I thought you were behind me." "So I was," replied Fandor, "but I left you to take a look in the study." "But it was I who was in the study!" Fandor stared in amazement. "Are you losing your senses?" "I've just come from there myself!" "Well, we weren't there together, that's certain. Let's try again."