‘It is clear to me that you have been robbed since.’
‘By whom?’
‘By some one in your confidence, perhaps. Some one to whom you had confided the guardianship of this fund, in which his Royal Highness the —— of —— is so much interested.’
Madame Humbert glared at me in anger.
‘You are mocking me,’ she cried fiercely. ‘I came here to ask if you would undertake the recovery of this money from the thief.’
‘That is unnecessary, madame. All that your friends have to do is to approach him, and breathe in his ear the three words, —— —— ——.’
‘But if we do not know who he is!’ cried the distracted plotter.
‘Oh, if you only require to know who he is, that is soon settled. I will send you the name of the robber on the day on which your affair terminates in the Courts.’
A light began to break upon the mind of the excited woman.
‘Monsieur V——!’ she exclaimed. ‘Is it possible——?’