"Excuse me, Riche," he said, swallowing a petit verre of the liqueur, "but I have an important appointment to keep. Pray amuse yourself until I return. You will find the last number of La Vie Parisienne on my table."
Villebois left the room and hurried to the telephone.
"Is Monsieur Pierre at home?"
"No, sir," came the reply, "he has gone to his club in the Avenue de l'Opera. He left half an hour ago."
"H'm," said Villebois, "this is very awkward."
"Oh, by the way, Marcel," he added as that little gentleman appeared in the passage, "just put on your hat and take a walk with me."
The two gentlemen hurried out of the house, and walked slowly arm in arm up and down the garden.
"Marcel, I want to take you into my confidence. Will you do me a special favour?" said Villebois, suddenly pausing in his walk and facing his companion.
"Certainly," replied Marcel, who loved nothing better than an adventure. "Command me and I will obey."
"Well then, I want you to go to the Circle des Italiens in the Avenue de l'Opera and ask to see Pierre. Tell him everything is discovered, and the game is up. He must leave Paris to-night, and disappear from France as quickly as possible. It is absolutely necessary for him to leave at once, as an order for his arrest may be issued at any moment. If his father learns of it, it will certainly kill him, and the disgrace and worry will probably finish me as well."