"The word of a St. Quentin."
"Sufficient, of course."
The scamp rose with a bow.
"Well, I have not the word of a gentleman to offer you, but I give you the opinion of Jean Peyrot, sometime Father Ambrosius, that he and the packet will be there. This has been a delightful call, monsieur, and I am loath to let you go. But it is time I was free to look for that packet."
M. Étienne's eyes went over to the chest.
"I wish you all success in your arduous search."
"It is like to be, in truth, a long and weary search," Peyrot sighed. "My ignorance of the perpetrators of the outrage makes my task difficult indeed. But rest assured, monsieur, that I shall question every man in Paris, if need be. I shall leave no stone unturned."
M. Étienne still pensively regarded the chest.
"If you leave no key unturned, 'twill be more to the purpose."
"You appear yet to nurse the belief that I have the packet. But as a matter of fact, monsieur, I have not."