He hobbles forth to his vocation, and dares not even visit Marie's grave.
Spies may track him as on that fatal night. And even Leroyne's bank may be watched.
He must take this risk, for his only reward lies in that mysterious address.
Jules, in workman's blouse, spends an hour with the grave-faced banker of the Rue Vivienne.
When he emerges, he has ten one-thousand-franc notes in his waist-lining and the promise of more.
The banker knows the whole story of Jules' broken hopes; of the promised reward; the double crime.
He directs Jules Tessier to further await orders at the caf‚, and to ignore the whole affair.
A significant hint about going forth at night makes Jules shudder. And the cipher cablegram gives Hardin the disjointed facts of Marie's death! His one ally gone. Her lips sealed forever.
Musing in his library, Hardin's clear head unravels this intrigue. The Paris police know not the past history of the actors in this drama. Jules is simply greedy and thick-headed. Leroyne & Co. are passionless bankers.
But Hardin gathers up the knotted threads and unravels all.