"What is it?" asked Bobichel.
Fanfaro told him the whole story in a few words.
In the meantime Gontram had learned from Mamma Caraman that Jane Zild had disappeared, and the thought flashed through his mind like lightning that Signor Fagiano's remark, which Carmen had overheard, related to her. He told Fanfaro about it, and they both resolved to examine Jane's room.
"There must be a third exit," said Fanfaro; "both the vicomte and Jane have disappeared without the footman's knowing anything about it. We can begin our work now, and may God grant that we find some trail."
Thereupon Fanfaro, Gontram, and Bobichel went to the room Jane had occupied. Gontram walked in advance, and soon all three stood in the beautifully furnished apartment. Bobichel crawled into every corner, and raised the heavy carpet which covered the floor, to see if there were any secret stairs. Then he got on top of Fanfaro's shoulders and knocked at the ceiling. But all was in vain. Nothing could be discovered.
Suddenly Fanfaro's eye rested on a small white spot in the blue, decorated wall. Drawing near to the spot, he saw that a small piece of white silk had been pressed in an almost imperceptible crack.
"Bobichel, your knife," cried Fanfaro, breathlessly.
"Master," said Bobichel, modestly, "there is a secret door there, and they generally have a spring attached to them."
"You are right," replied Fanfaro, "but how discover the spring?"
"I think," remarked Gontram, "that the spring is under one of the small blue buttons with which the wall is decorated. Let us search."