“I will find out where he goes to,” thought Andre.
He followed, and saw him enter the house of M. Rigal. Two women were gossiping near the door, and Andre heard one of them say,—
“That is the young fellow who is going to marry Flavia, the banker’s daughter.”
Paul, therefore, was to marry the daughter of the chief of the gang. Should he tell Lecoq this? But, of course, the detective knew it.
Time was passing, and Andre felt that he had but little space to gain the house that Gandelu was building in the Champs Elysees, if he wished to ask hospitality from his friend Vignol.
He found all the workmen there, and not one of them recognized him when he asked for Vignol.
“He is engaged up there,” said one. “Take the staircase to the left.”
The chief part of the ornamental work was in front, and it was there that the little hut which Tantaine had pointed out to Toto Chupin was erected. Vignol was in it, and was utterly surprised when Andre made himself known, for he did not recognize him under his strange disguise.
“It is nothing,” returned the young man cautiously, as Vignol paused for an explanation; “only a little love affair.”
“Do you expect to win a girl’s heart by making such a guy of yourself?” asked his friend with a laugh.