They found no traces of them; and they did not find Victoire.

The concierge could throw no light on her disappearance.
He and his wife had been taken by surprise in their sleep and in the dark.
They had been gagged and bound, they declared, without so much as having set eyes on their assailants.

The Duke and the inspector came back to the plundered drawing-room.
The inspector looked at his watch and went to the telephone.
"I must let the Prefecture know," he said.
"Be sure you ask them to send Guerchard," said the Duke.
"Guerchard ?" said the inspector doubtfully.
"M.

Formery, the examining magistrate, does not get on very well with Guerchard." "What sort of a man is M.Formery?
Is he capable ?" said the Duke.
"Oh, yes--yes.

He's very capable," said the inspector quickly.