"More difficult than you suppose, M. Lépine," said Crochard dryly.
Lépine looked at him.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
Crochard turned to Delcassé with a little deprecating gesture.
"Before I proceed," he said, "I must be certain of my position here. With you, sir, no explanations are necessary; we understand each other and we have no past to prejudice us. But M. le Prefect and I are old enemies. We respect each other, but we always welcome an opportunity to try conclusions. Until this affair is ended, I propose a truce."
"I will go further than that," retorted Lépine, "and call it an alliance. I shall welcome your help. I have already told M. Delcassé that you are probably as good a patriot as he or I."
"I shall try to prove that you are right," said Crochard, his eyes shining. "There is one more condition. In this affair, it may be necessary for me to call to my assistance certain persons for whom the police are looking. Should they be recognised while so engaged, no effort must be made to arrest them."
"I agree," said Lépine, instantly.
Crochard leaned back in his chair with a sigh of satisfaction.
"I am ready to proceed," he said. "Let us, for the time, forget our differences."