"The concierge?"
"Why, I sent him to the Rue Chalgrin this morning to pick up some garnets which had fallen from my brooch."
"There is no doubt about it, Shears has caught him in a trap."
"Not at all. The garnets were brought to the jeweler in the Rue de la Paix."
"Then what has become of Jeanniot since?"
"Oh, Maxime, I'm so frightened!"
"There's no cause for alarm. But I admit that the position is very serious. How much does he know? Where is he hiding? His strength lies in his isolation. There is nothing to betray him."
"Then what have you decided on?"
"Extreme prudence, Clotilde. Some time ago I made up my mind to move my things to the refuge you know of, the safe refuge. The intervention of Shears hastens the need. When a man like Shears is on a trail, we may take it that he is bound to follow that trail to the end. So I have made all my preparations. The removal will take place on the day after to-morrow, Wednesday. It will be finished by midday. By two o'clock I shall be able myself to leave, after getting rid of the last vestige of our occupation, which is no small matter. Until then ..."