“Good. Come with me, then.”
The two men passed into the study.
Mr. Frasne opened the safe and noticed at once a certain disorder in its contents.
“You have been looking for something, a will perhaps?” he asked blandly.
Philippeaux protested with the greatest energy.
“No, sir. I can swear to it.”
“Then I don’t understand any better than I did at first. Wait a moment. This envelope has been torn open. It contained the money from the purchase of Belvade: one hundred and twenty thousand francs. We counted it together.”
“That’s true,” agreed the frightened clerk.
Still very calm, the notary did not pursue his investigation any further, closing the safe carefully.
“Some one has been in here.”