"No," replied the Beard. "Verrez village is behind that hill. The main road runs by the row of poplars." "All right. Go and wait there with Josephine. I'll catch you up in a quarter of an hour," ordered Loupart. "I've a wire to send off." His acolytes gone, Loupart resumed his way. As a measure of precaution, he took off his jacket, turned it inside out and put it on again. The jacket was a trick one: the lining was a different colour and the pockets differently placed. On reaching Verrez, Loupart turned round. From the top of the little hill he could see, in the distance, the reddening flames. "That's going all right," thought the wretch; "the Simplon express has run into the cars. There must be a fine mix-up there." Reaching the post-office at last, he seized a blank and wrote on it hastily: "Juve, Inspector of Safety, 142 Rue Bonaparte, Paris. All is well; found gang complete, including Loupart. Robbery committed but failed. Cannot give details. Be at Bercy Stores alone, but armed, to-morrow at eleven at night, near the Kessler House cellars. "Fandor." The clerk held out her hand to take the message. The bandit was extremely polite. "Be so good as to pay special attention to this message. Read it over, madam. You grasp the importance of it? You see it must be kept absolutely secret. I rely on you." Ten minutes' quick walking brought Loupart once more to Josephine and the Beard. "Hullo!" he cried. "Anything new?" "Nothing." "Josephine, go down the hill and the first motor that passes, set to and howl; call 'help' and 'murder'; got to stop it. Be off! Look sharp!" Some minutes passed. The two men watched Josephine go down the road and hide in one of the ditches. "Your barker is ready, Beard?" "Six plugs, Loupart." "Good! You go to the right, I to the left." Loupart had scarcely given these orders, when, on the horizon, a bright gleam became visible, growing larger every minute, while the noise of a motor broke the silence of the open country. Loupart laughed. "Look, Beard. Acetylene lamps, eh? That car will do our job splendidly." An automobile was fast nearing them. As it passed by Josephine, she rushed into the road, uttering piercing cries. "Help! Murder! Have pity! Stop!" With a hasty movement the chauffeur, taken aback by the sight of a woman rising unexpectedly on the lonely road, made a dash at his brakes. Meanwhile from the inside of the car a traveller leaned out. "What is it? What's the matter?" As the car was about to stop, Loupart and the Beard rushed out. "You take the passenger!" cried the former; "I'll attend to the chauffeur." The two brigands sprang on the footboards. "No tricks, or I'll shoot! Josephine, truss these fowls for me!" cried Loupart. Josephine took a roll of cord from her lover's pocket and tied the two victims firmly while Loupart gagged them.