CHAPTER XIV.
RICHARD DUVALL rose, the following day, with a less troubled mind than at any time since his arrival in Paris.
His calculations of the night before had brought him to a definite conclusion.
After breakfasting in the café of the hotel he returned to his room, and rang up Monsieur Lefevre.
"I want the assistance of one of your men, Monsieur," he said.
"Ah!" laughed the Prefect. "You are—what you Americans call—up a tree, is it not?"
"Not at all. You have said that there existed between us a competition, to recover Mr. Stapleton's child. I think I am going to win. But since I am not in a position to make the necessary arrests, myself, I am going to share the glory with you, my dear friend, by allowing one of your men to do so for me."
"So you are confident?"