M. de Saynthine placed his hand on Monsieur Toulouse's arm.
"Hold your tongue," he ordered. "We are not here to shout or to be trifled with."
As he uttered these last words he turned to Didier and said:
"Be good enough, Monsieur, to answer us seriously."
"I tell you, with the utmost seriousness, that one hundred and fifty thousand francs are all that I have left. I gave the rest to the State."
This time they stared at him in silent amazement. Captain d'Haumont did not look as if he were "trifling." Nevertheless the Burglar could not refrain from again striking the table with his clenched fist.
"He's getting at us. The thing's impossible," he cried.
"Personally I don't believe a word of it," declared the Joker with a feeble smile.
"He is quite capable of doing such a thing," said the Parisian.
"You can have proof of it whenever you like," declared Didier with an impassive air.