"Sure."
The little group moved forward in silence. At length Josephine began to tire.
"Say, have we much further to go?"
"No," replied the Beard. "Verrez village is behind that hill. The main road runs by the row of poplars."
"All right. Go and wait there with Josephine. I'll catch you up in a quarter of an hour," ordered Loupart. "I've a wire to send off."
His acolytes gone, Loupart resumed his way. As a measure of precaution, he took off his jacket, turned it inside out and put it on again. The jacket was a trick one: the lining was a different colour and the pockets differently placed.
On reaching Verrez, Loupart turned round. From the top of the little hill he could see, in the distance, the reddening flames.
"That's going all right," thought the wretch; "the Simplon express has run into the cars. There must be a fine mix-up there."
Reaching the post-office at last, he seized a blank and wrote on it hastily:
"Juve, Inspector of Safety, 142 Rue Bonaparte, Paris. All is well; found gang complete, including Loupart. Robbery committed but failed. Cannot give details. Be at Bercy Stores alone, but armed, to-morrow at eleven at night, near the Kessler House cellars.