CHAPTER XVI
WHEN Monsieur Lefevre touched Richard Duvall on the shoulder, in the restaurant in the Boulevard des Italiens, he was filled with a very great feeling of anxiety, although he concealed it behind a mask of pleased surprise at the unexpected meeting.
Since early the evening before he had had no word from Grace. He knew from Mr. Stapleton that she had left his house a short while after nine; but since then she had completely disappeared.
The Prefect at first thought that she had been unable to keep her identity from her husband any longer, and had joined him. He later learned from Vernet that this was not the case. Now the old gentleman began to feel seriously alarmed at her continued absence.
"How goes everything, my friend?" he asked, with an elaborate show of carelessness. "Have you found the kidnappers yet?"
Duvall smiled. "Not yet. But I expect to have them, before the evening is over."
"Indeed! I congratulate you. Have you seen anything of Mademoiselle Goncourt?"
"No. Why?"
"I thought perhaps you might have met her. You two are after the same game, you know."
Duvall smiled grimly. "I don't believe she's following the same trail that I am," he said. "I expect to win that bet, Monsieur."