Leaving the prison, Fandor walked straight ahead, thinking aloud.

“It is clear – evident! The Barbey-Nanteuils have sold Thomery shares to be paid up on a certain date.

Thomery was murdered so that his shares should fall to zero, and so that the Barbey-Nanteuil should realise enormous sums at their monthly clearance. Next Saturday, the coffers of the Barbey-Nanteuil bank will be full of gold, and this same Saturday is the last day of May, the fatal day inscribed on the list. Yes, this coming Saturday, they will pillage the Barbey-Nanteuil bank!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE : A RAT TRAP

Jerome Fandor had been ringing Juve’s door bell in vain: the great detective was not at home.

“What the devil is he doing? What has become of him? Never have I needed his advice as I need it now!... His support, encouragement – what a comfort they would be!... It is possible he would have dissuaded me against the attempt – or, he might have joined forces with me! Hang it all! It was a damned bad move on Juve’s part to make himself scarce at such a critical moment for me!... It’s a long time too, since I had news of him! Were I not certain that he has sound reasons for his absence – Juve never acts without good cause – I should be desperately anxious!” Fandor consulted his watch – four o’clock! He had time then! He could think over all the dramatic events in which he had been involved during the past weeks, beginning with the rue Norvins affair, and ending – how, and when? At last, the journalist arrived before the immense building which forms the corner of the rue de Clichy. He saw, in front of him, the tall windows of the flat occupied by Nanteuil: on the ground floor were the bank offices.

Well, thought Fandor, I certainly am going to do an unconventional thing. If my summing up of them is right, these bankers are balanced, calm, cold, without imagination, and distrusting it in others. I shall have to be eloquent to convince them, to make them listen to me and get them to do what I want. Will they show me the door, as though I were an intriguer or a madman?... I shall not let them do it! Ah, they will owe me a pretty penny if I have the good luck... but whether there will be good luck for my venture, and gratitude from the bankers, remains to be seen... Here goes!

Seated behind their large and important-looking writing-table, resembling judges behind a judgment seat, Messieurs Barbey and Nanteuil, in their immense reception office, separated from the rest of the world by a number of padded doors, had just said to Fandor, who was standing in front of them:

“We are listening to you, monsieur.”