“But what analogy between the Sphinx and the Masked Man?”
“A close one. I propose an enigma; only I am not cruel like the Sphinx and will not devour you if you fail to guess. Listen: Which lord at the court is grandson of his father, brother of his mother and uncle of his sisters?”
“The devil!” burst forth Beausire, falling into a reverie. “Can you not also help me out here, my lord?”
“Let us turn from pagan story to sacred history, then. Do you know the tale of Lot?”
“Lot and the Pillar of Salt, and his daughters?”
“The same.”
“Of course, I do. Wait a bit, do they not say that old King Louis XIV, and his daughter the Lady Adeliade——“
“You are getting warm, captain——“
“In that case the Masked Man would be Count Louis Narbonne!”
“Now that we are no longer in doubt about this conspirator, let us finish with the aim of the plot. The object is to carry off the King? And take him to Peronne? what means have you?”