Ballangier was stupefied. Balloquet was no less surprised. Frédérique, on the contrary, simply nodded her head, muttering: "I suspected as much!"—Then she said:
"But it isn't enough to be convinced, to know that it was he? How are we to prove it? How can we discover in what place, in what out-of-the-way corner of Paris, he has concealed Mignonne? If you should ask him, he would deny having had any hand in the young woman's disappearance."
"Just let me find your husband," I said; "tell me where I can see him and speak to him, and I am sure that he will deny nothing to me."
Frédérique looked at me in surprise; then she rose hurriedly, saying:
"I will go home at once; my presence will not rouse his suspicions. I will find out what he did yesterday and to-day; I will find out whether he is at home. If he is, I will send word to you instantly; and to prevent his going out, I will go to his apartment, I will ask for an interview on business—in short, I will keep him at home."
She said no more, but left the room at once. Then I said to Balloquet:
"You remember Annette—and that Bouqueton?"
"Yes, yes! Well?"
"Well, that Bouqueton was Monsieur Dauberny."
"What! the villain who——"