"What is it, Dominique?"
"The château was broken into last night."
"Impossible!" the Count declared in a positive tone. "The doors were all locked. Where did they break in?"
"I don't know. But I've found a ladder against the wall by Monsieur d'Estreicher's bedroom; and the transom is broken. The criminals made their way into the dressing-room and when they had done the job, came out through the bedroom door."
"What job?"
"I don't know, sir. I didn't like to go further into the matter by myself. I put everything back in its place."
The Count de Chagny drew a hundred-franc note from his pocket.
"Not a word of this, Dominique. Watch the corridor and see that no one disturbs us."
Raoul and his wife followed him. The door between d'Estreicher's dressing-room and bedroom was half open. The smell of chloroform filled the room.
The Count uttered a cry.