"Perhaps the man and his daughter have met with some accident."
"We should have heard of it," Lépine objected. "I have scrutinised every report—viewed every body which at all resembled him."
"Then," said Delcassé, "he has been suppressed, as one who knew too much."
"My own opinion is," said the Prefect, "that he has sought refuge in Germany, until he can prepare for another demonstration against France."
The Minister moved uneasily in his chair.
"I have thought of that," he said, "and I am doing everything I can to render such an attempt impossible—but it is a hard task—one can never be sure. There is another thing I wished to ask you. Where is Crochard?"
"I do not know, sir. I have not seen him since that morning at Toulon when we parted outside the Hotel du Nord."
"Then he, too, has disappeared?"
"Yes, sir, completely."
"Has it never occurred to you, Lépine, to connect these two disappearances?"