One director after another repeated the experiment, but always with the result that the ball fell into whatever number they suggested. Cheer after cheer arose from the witnesses, and the police were either unwilling or powerless to suppress the applause.
"Une merveille," said M. Eperon, holding up his hands.
Everyone was absolutely dumbfounded.
As the directors were unable to maintain any of the charges against Delapine and Renée, they were requested to retire with the police to one of the anterooms, where a further conference was held.
At length they returned, and the Chef de Police asked Delapine how he invariably managed to put his stakes on the winning numbers.
"The law cannot compel me to explain my systems of play, gentlemen, and I refuse to answer. I have broken no law, I never saw either the croupiers or the roulette wheel before. I have not done anything against the regulations. I merely pitted my wits against yours, and I have won. Therein lies the whole of my offence."
At this all the visitors cheered, and were immediately silenced by the police.
M. Eperon was obliged to admit that they could not produce any evidence of guilt, and told the directors he was reluctantly compelled to dismiss the charge.
"What will you accept now to reveal your system to me?" said the head of the Administration in a whisper as he stepped up to the professor.