The policemen drew their revolvers, and followed the Duke.

The big hall was but dimly lighted.

One of the policemen quickly threw back the shutters of the windows and let in the light.

The hall was empty, the furniture in perfect order; there were no signs of burglary there.
"The concierge ?" said the inspector, and his men hurried through the little door on the right which opened into the concierge's rooms.

In half a minute one of them came out and said: "Gagged and bound, and his wife too." "But the rooms which were to be plundered are upstairs," said the Duke--"the big drawing-rooms on the first floor.