The interminable hours crawled by. To smoke was out of the question. Fandor’s pride in his exploit was sinking to zero: was he passing a wretched night to no purpose? A violent ring sounded. Someone was ringing at the garden gate – ringing loudly, insistently – an urgent summons!

Instantly Fandor was on the alert. Useless to slip to the window and peer cautiously out, for Elizabeth’s window did not face the gate: even by leaning out he could not catch a glimpse of any visitors, either coming to the house or passing along towards Madame Bourrat’s apartments in the annex... Besides, Fandor feared to make a noise, and the polished boards of the floor cracked and creaked at the least movement!

The one thing for me to do, he thought he, is to creep back into my retreat and wait. Now who can it be at this time of night?

Fandor’s curiosity was rapidly satisfied – after a fashion! The call of the bell had been answered by noises and hurried footsteps, whisperings, an outburst of voices, then silence... A few minutes later, Fandor clearly heard some persons entering the ground floor of the house.

He listened intently: he could hear his own heartbeats.

Then a voice said:

“In Heaven’s name! Is it possible! Why do you come to upset people at this time of night? As if we had not had enough to put up with during the day! It is a dreadful business! There’s no doubt about it! Are we never to be left in peace?”

“Why, that’s Madame Bourrat’s voice!” said Fandor.

“Poor woman! What’s going on?” He listened. Someone said:

“The law is the law, madame, and we are its humble executors. As the examining judge has ordered me to make an investigation, we are compelled to carry out his instructions to the letter. Be good enough to tell your servant to lead us to the actual spot where the crime was attempted!”

“Now what is all this?” asked Fandor. “And where does this police inspector come from? This is all I need! He won’t know what to make of it when I tell him who I am – and how am I to explain my presence here? Anyhow, wait, and see what happens!”

Someone was coming upstairs– more than one.

“This way, messieurs!” said a hoarse voice. “The room the young lady occupied is at the end of this passage!” This time I recognise my fine fellow! thought Fandor. It is that imbecile of a Jules. But what a triumphant tone! And how different his voice sounds to what it did, this afternoon, at the examination!

Then Fandor all but jumped from his hiding place.