M.Formery told him that, so far, the detectives had failed to find a single trace.

Guerchard said that he had three men at work on the search, and that he was hopeful of getting some news before long.
"The layman is impatient in these matters," said M.Formery, with an indulgent smile.

"But we have learnt to be patient, after long experience." He proceeded to discuss with Guerchard the new theories with which the discovery of the afternoon had filled his mind.

None of them struck the Duke as being of great value, and he listened to them with a somewhat absent-minded air.

The coming examination of Sonia weighed heavily on his spirit.