"In deadly earnest, sir. So is Crochard."
Delcassé pondered a moment.
"You may bring him here at seven o'clock to-night," he said, finally. "That is the first moment I have at leisure."
"It will not do, M. Delcassé," said Lépine, firmly. "The other inquiry must wait. It is not that inquiry which is important, it is this one."
Again the Minister stared.
"But it seems to me that you are telling me what I must do," he said. "Explain yourself."
"Your official inquiry," answered Lépine boldly, "for all the famous men who take part in it, will discover nothing—it will be like that other inquiry into the affair of the Jena."
"And what will yours discover?"
"It is not mine—it is Crochard's," Lépine corrected. "It is he who is in command. And it seems to me that he has already made a beginning. I am convinced that he has something more to tell us. He has charged me to secure answers to two questions."
"What are they?"