“What is it?” said M. Formery.

“A little present for you,” said Guerchard.

“What do you mean?” cried M. Formery angrily.

Guerchard held up a card between his thumb and forefinger and said quietly:

“The card of Arsène Lupin.”

CHAPTER XIV
GUERCHARD PICKS UP THE TRUE SCENT

The millionaire gazed at the card with stupefied eyes, the inspector gazed at it with extreme intelligence, the Duke gazed at it with interest, and M. Formery gazed at it with extreme disgust.

“It’s part of the same ruse—it was put there to throw us off the scent. It proves nothing—absolutely nothing,” he said scornfully.

“No; it proves nothing at all,” said Guerchard quietly.

“The telegram is the important thing—this telegram,” said M. Gournay-Martin feverishly. “It concerns the coronet. Is it going to be disregarded?”