“Let us go to the first floor. They must be there.”
“The first floor is occupied by two men named Leroux.”
“We will examine the Messieurs Leroux.”
They all ascended the stairs and the commissary rang. At the second ring a man opened the door; he was in his shirt-sleeves. Sholmes recognized him as one of Lupin’s bodyguard. The man assumed a furious air:
“What do you mean by making such a row at this hour of the morning ... waking people up....”
But he stopped suddenly, astounded.
“God forgive me!... really, gentlemen, I didn’t notice who it was. Why, it is Monsieur Decointre!... and you, Monsieur Ganimard. What can I do for you!”
Ganimard burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, which caused him to bend double and turn black in the face.
“Ah! it is you, Leroux,” he stammered. “Oh! this is too funny! Leroux, an accomplice of Arsène Lupin! Oh, I shall die! and your brother, Leroux, where is he?”
“Edmond!” called the man. “It is Ganimard, who has come to visit us.”