He was almost hopeful.

M.Formery, who had not by any means trifled with the champagne, was raised to the very height of sanguine certainty.

Their coffee and liqueurs were served in the smoking-room.

Guerchard lighted a cigar, refused a liqueur, drank his coffee quickly, and slipped out of the room.
The Duke followed him, and in the hall said: "I will continue to watch you unravel the threads of this mystery, if I may, M.Guerchard." Good Republican as Guerchard was, he could not help feeling flattered by the interest of a Duke; and the excellent lunch he had eaten disposed him to feel the honour even more deeply.
"I shall be charmed," he said.

"To tell the truth, I find the company of your Grace really quite stimulating." "It must be because I find it all so extremely interesting," said the Duke.
They went up to the drawing-room and found the red-faced young policeman seated on a chair by the door eating a lunch, which had been sent up to him from the millionaire's kitchen, with a very hearty appetite.
They went into the drawing-room.