Ganimard arose, laid his sooty hand on the sleeve of his superior officer’s coat, and exclaimed, angrily:
“Where do you think they are, chief? They must be somewhere! They are flesh and blood like you and me, and can’t fade away like smoke.”
“No, but they have faded away just the same.”
“But how? How? The house is surrounded by our men—even on the roof.”
“What about the adjoining house?”
“There’s no communication with it.”
“And the apartments on the other floors?”
“I know all the tenants. They have not seen anyone.”
“Are you sure you know all of them?”
“Yes. The concierge answers for them. Besides, as an extra precaution, I have placed a man in each apartment. They can’t escape. If I don’t get them to-night, I will get them to-morrow. I shall sleep here.”