“Now we know where we are,” said Lupin, with cheerful briskness. “Guerchard will be here in ten minutes with a warrant for my arrest. All of you clear out.”

“It won’t be so precious easy. The house is watched,” said Charolais. “And I’ll bet it’s watched back and front.”

“Well, slip out by the secret entrance. They haven’t found that yet,” said Lupin. “And meet me at the house at Passy.”

Charolais and Bernard wanted no more telling; they ran to the book-case and pressed the buttons; the book-case slid aside; the doors opened and disclosed the lift. They stepped into it. Victoire had followed them. She paused and said: “And you? Are you coming?”

“In an instant I shall slip out the same way,” he said.

“I’ll wait for him. You go on,” said Victoire; and the lift went down.

Lupin went to the telephone, rang the bell, and put the receiver to his ear.

“You’ve no time to waste telephoning. They may be here at any moment!” cried Victoire anxiously.

“I must. If I don’t telephone Sonia will come here. She will run right into Guerchard’s arms. Why the devil don’t they answer? They must be deaf!” And he rang the bell again.

“Let’s go to her! Let’s get out of here!” cried Victoire, more anxiously. “There really isn’t any time to waste.”