Bobinette nodded. She was incapable of speech. The inspector ignored the nod, brushed past her, stepped into the room and glanced rapidly round.
Bobinette, wild-eyed with fear, watched the proceedings. She saw the stout woman moving the chairs, looking under the bed, shaking the hangings. The fussy, obnoxious creature tore apart the window-curtains.... Vagualame was exposed to view!... He had not escaped, then!
They dragged the old fellow from his hiding-place: they promptly handcuffed him.
"Vagualame! In the name of the law I arrest you!" declared Inspector Michel.
Captain Loreuil shouted in his natural voice, which, issuing from this apparent woman, had a ludicrous effect:
"Ha! at last we have got him!"
Juve-Vagualame did not budge. With inward joy, he awaited the arrest of Bobinette.
"Things go well," he thought: "if not so well as old Michel believes. Comrade Juve in the bracelets, and Vagualame free! But he holds Bobinette in his hand—the old ruffian's accomplice, unmasked!"
What was this? Could Juve believe his ears?... Michel apologising to this guilty creature! Felicitating her on her escape from Vagualame's clutches! What the deuce?...
"Ah, Mademoiselle! You never suspected who was so near you, now did you?" Inspector Michel was saying to Bobinette, whose self-confidence was beginning to return.