The man on his feet resumed his walk, and was listening to his opponent. Once more he stopped, and said— “It shall be as I wish, I tell you.” Laforêt whispered— “Is he the man? Do you recognize the voice?” “No!” said Baudoin, anxiously. “I don’t recognize it at all.” The man seated before the table thereupon folded up his papers, and put them in his pocket, with the words—“Then there is nothing to do but obey!” The other thereupon went up to the table, laid his hand on the shoulder of his opponent who had capitulated, and said in joyful accents— “That’s right! You were a long time before you would give in! Now we must set to work. No one will repent the decision reached!” And he burst into a loud laugh. Laforêt felt the hand of his companion shake, and, at the same time, Baudoin murmured in accents of frightful anguish— “It is he—yes, that is the man; I recognize his laugh!” He gave a gesture of anger, but Laforêt immediately restrained him. “Listen once more! Make sure that you are not mistaken!” “It is he! I cannot be mistaken! Ah! that laugh of his; just as I heard it on the night of the crime, when he descended from the carriage.” “Well, then, we know all we want. We must not stay any longer here; it is useless to risk any unnecessary danger.” Thereupon he glided down to the edge of the zinc roof. Baudoin followed him, and the two men put on their shoes and reached the courtyard. There they halted. The door of the inn was closed, but Laforêt knew how to deal with locks, and, a second later, his companion and himself were in the open street. “What are you going to do now?” said Baudoin. “The police are at hand. Will you hesitate to lock up this villain at once?” “Good!” said Laforêt. “That is one solution. And afterwards?” “What do you mean—afterwards?” “Nothing is easier than to take him. We need only wait till he leaves the inn, and then carry him off to the police! But what then?” “Of course he will be accused of the crime committed at Vanves; then he will be tried, convicted, and finally condemned.” “Indeed! Convicted? You think so? Such a man as the one with whom we have to deal? Take him unawares? Could he not easily find an alibi to prove that he was five hundred miles away from Vanves on the night of the crime? Even yourself, five minutes ago, hesitated about recognizing him. And then, whilst we have this bird safe under lock and bolt, only to be obliged, later on, to set him at liberty, perhaps, all the others will take to flight. That will be a fine end to everything!” “All the same, we cannot fold our arms quietly, and let this rascal get off scot-free?”