Fandor grew impatient, on fire with curiosity. Ah, this was indeed the Juve of bygone days, imperturbable, ironic, and also rather exasperating!

However, Juve took pity on Fandor, who was still under the influence of the shock he had received.

“Well now, dear lad, did you recognise me, a while ago?” Fandor pulled himself together.

“To tell you the truth, Juve, I did not... but, when our glances met, I had an intuition, a kind of interior revelation of what I had to do, and without any hesitation, I knew I had to follow you, follow you wherever you went.” Juve nodded his approval.

“Very good, dear fellow, your reply gives me infinite pleasure, and on two counts: in the first place, I perceive that your remarkable instinct for getting onto the right scent, strengthened by my teaching, has improved immensely since we parted; and, in the second place, I am delighted to know that I made my head and face so unrecognisable, that even my old familiar friend, Fandor, did not know me when we were brought face to face!”

“Why this disguise, Juve?” demanded Fandor, his countenance alight with curiosity. “How was it I came across you at the very spot where the Barbey-Nanteuil load of gold had been submerged, for the moment, under bricks and mortar? And, with regard to that Juve, how comes it...” Juve cut Fandor short.

“Gently! Fandor! Gently! You are putting the cart before the horse, old follow; and if we continue to talk by fits and starts, never shall we come to the end of all we have to say to each other, and must say. Are you aware, Fandor, that we have been drawn into a succession of incomprehensible occurrences – a mysterious network of them?... But I have good hopes that now we shall be able to work together again; and I like to think that if we follow the different trails we have each started on we shall end up by...” It was Fandor’s turn to interrupt:

“Hang it all, Juve! I partly understand you, of course; but there’s a lot I don’t know yet.... What are you after, dear Juve? Are you, as I am, on the track of Jacques Dollon?”

There was a pause, then Juve said:

“I shall reserve the details for our leisure. What matters now is, that I should make clear to you the principal lines my existence has followed during the past three years or so. A few minutes will suffice to put you in possession of the main facts. Now listen.”