Lupin bent over the copy which the solicitor had taken from the cupboard and, after examining it at length, said:
"You spoke of three pictures."
"Yes, the one which you see was handed to my predecessor by the heirs of Charles. Louise d'Ernemont possesses another. As for the third, no one knows what became of it."
Lupin looked at me and continued:
"And do they all bear the same date?"
"Yes, the date inscribed by Charles d'Ernemont when he had them framed, not long before his death.... The same date, that is to say the 15th of April, Year II, according to the revolutionary calendar, as the arrest took place in April, 1794."
"Oh, yes, of course," said Lupin. "The figure 2 means...."
He thought for a few moments and resumed:
"One more question, if I may. Did no one ever come forward to solve the problem?"
Maître Valandier threw up his arms: