Both Colonel and Captain left the room. The Minister rubbed his hands with satisfaction. Meanwhile Baudoin had made his way along the quays, and reached the Law Courts as four o’clock was striking. Crossing the large entrance hall, he mounted to the second floor, and stopped in front of M. Mayeur’s study. The attendant was an old friend of his, and welcomed him cordially— “Holloa! you here?” he asked. “Have you come as witness in another affair?” “No. I simply wish to speak to the magistrate. Is he engaged?” “Always! Just now it is a gang of oil-painting thieves, who have been overhauling the hotel of a marquis in the Champs-Elysées.” “Can I speak to him?” “As soon as he rings, I will tell him you are here. Ah, he is in no amiable mood. He and the attorney seem to be quarrelling all the time!” The bell rang, a door opened, and three men of slouching gait, regular types of Parisian blackguards devoured by absinthe, advanced, casting sly, searching looks in every direction. But there were neither doors nor windows by which they could gain the open-air, so they quietly continued their route. The attendant said— “M. Baudoin, will you come in now? M. Mayeur is disengaged.” The old soldier entered the study. The registrar looked at him as he passed with a certain amount of curiosity. M. Mayeur smilingly pointed to a chair, placed his papers in order, and, turning to the clerk, said— “You may go now. Put all the files in order. Goodbye.” The clerk gave a grimace, which might at will have been taken as a mark of politeness or of insolence, and withdrew. M. Mayeur, doubtless tired of questioning, looked steadily at Baudoin, and invited him to explain himself. “I undertook, monsieur, to inform you of whatever fresh might happen concerning the Vanves affair. I have come to keep my promise.” “Has something taken place of a nature to throw light on the affair?” “A great deal has happened.” “What?” “A fire, a murder, and a robbery!” M. Mayeur’s face lit up. “And where have these crimes been committed?” “At Ars, in the Aube.” The magistrate’s countenance darkened, as though the inner light which had just illumined it had died away. He said— “In the Aube? That is not within our jurisdiction, and does not concern us.” “I beg your pardon; it concerns us very much. For the people who have committed these crimes have also the Vanves affair to their credit, and it is for this affair, of which the other is only the consequence, that they are wanted.” “Then you know them?” “I do.” “And you know where to lay hands on them?” “No. But I can tell you how to do so.” “So the affair we were so unfortunately obliged to shelve a couple of months ago is about to recommence? Perhaps this time we shall be able to reach a satisfactory conclusion!” “I maintain without the slightest hesitation that we shall succeed if you will do your duty.”