[CHAPTER V]
THEOPHRASTUS SHOWS THE BLACK FEATHER
From that day the conversations of Theophrastus, Marceline, and Adolphe were of fascinating interest to them. They pored and pored over the document; they discussed over and over again the "Cock," the "Gall," "Chopinettes," and the "Betrayal of April 1st" of the mysterious document. They soon left Azure Waves Villa and returned to Paris to ransack the libraries.
Adolphe, the great reader, was much better adapted to historical research than either Marceline or Theophrastus; and their patience was exhausted long before his.
One Sunday they were strolling along the Champs-Elysées; and both Theophrastus and Marceline had been complaining bitterly of their failure at the libraries, when Adolphe said thoughtfully:
"What use would it be to us to find approximately the spot in which the treasures are buried unless Theophrastus had his Black Feather?"
"What Black Feather? What do you mean?" said Marceline and Theophrastus with one voice.
"Let's stroll back towards the Rond-Pont; and I'll tell you what I mean," said Adolphe.
When they were under the trees, among the throng of careless strollers, Adolphe said:
"You've heard of the water-finders?"
"Of course," they said promptly.