"We took a liking to each other." She turned to Juve. "I suppose you distrust me for giving you the slip with another man?" Juve smiled. "You found a good companion and forgot us. There is really nothing to be angry about. Now, won't you tell us what brings you here?" "Yes, but M. Juve, you must swear to me that you will never repeat what I am going to tell you." "It is very serious then?" "M. Juve, I am going to put you in the way of arresting Loupart." "You are very kind, my dear Josephine, but if the attempt is to succeed no better than that we made at the 'Crocodile'----" "No, no, this time you'll be sure to nab him. Day after to-morrow at 2 o'clock, Loupart is going with some of his gang to Nogent, 7 Rue des Charmilles. He has a job there under way." Juve laughed. "They've been fooling you, Josephine. Isn't that your view, Fandor? Do you think that Loupart would try a stroke in broad daylight?" Josephine gave more details, eager to persuade him. "There will be fifteen of them outside a little house whose tenants are away. Some of them will make a crowd to help their mates in case of danger. The Beard is to be in it, too." "And Loupart?" "Yes, Loupart, I tell you. He will wear a black mask by which you can identify him." "Very well, if we have nothing better to do we will take a trip to Nogent day after to-morrow; eh, Fandor?" "As you like, Juve." "Only, remember this, my dear Josephine, if you are putting up a game on us you'll be sorry for it. There is a way, to be sure, in which you can prove your good faith. Be at Nogent Station at half-past one. If we find Loupart where you say he will be, we shall arrest him; if we don't find him----" The detective paused, significantly. "You will nab him. Only we mustn't look as if we met by appointment. No one must suspect that I gave you the tip." Hereupon, Josephine started to go. Her manoeuvre had succeeded, and Loupart's business would go ahead safely. She turned at the door and nodded, looking at Fandor. "Another thing; Loupart doesn't love you; you had better be on your guard." Juve turned thoughtfully to Fandor: "Strange! Is this woman playing with us, or is she in earnest, and how she looked at you when telling us to be on our guard!" XXIV A MYSTERIOUS CLASP "Hullo! Hullo!" Waking with a start, Juve rushed to the telephone. It was already broad daylight, but the detective had gone to bed very late and had been sleeping profoundly. "Yes, it's I, Juve. The Sûreté? It's you, M. Havard? Yes, I am free. Oh! That's strange. No signs? I understand. Count on me. I'll go there and keep you informed." Juve dressed in haste, went down to the street and hailed a taxi. "To Sèvres, the foot of the hill at Bellevue, and look sharp about it!" * * * * *