"Ah," he said, greatly relieved, "that's a piece of luck!... But, all the same, how on earth was it done?... Do you know the scoundrel?"
"Yes, we've got him locked up. Pray come with me and we'll soon look into the matter."
"Whom have I the honour ...?"
"M. Delangle, detective-inspector. I have sent to let M. Marquenne, the magistrate, know."
Nicolas Dugrival went out with the inspector; and the two of them started for the commissary's office, some distance behind the grand stand. They were within fifty yards of it, when the inspector was accosted by a man who said to him, hurriedly:
"The fellow with the watch has blabbed; we are on the tracks of a whole gang. M. Marquenne wants you to wait for him at the pari-mutuel and to keep a look-out near the fourth booth."
There was a crowd outside the betting-booths and Inspector Delangle muttered:
"It's an absurd arrangement.... Whom am I to look out for?... That's just like M. Marquenne!..."
He pushed aside a group of people who were crowding too close upon him:
"By Jove, one has to use one's elbows here and keep a tight hold on one's purse. That's the way you got your watch pinched, M. Dugrival!"