“I wonder if we shall be in time to catch the train? I must telephone to Heydenryck at once.”
Five minutes later he was in a public telephone-box speaking to the receiver of stolen goods.
Then, without returning to the Hôtel Ombrone, we took a taxi direct to the Gare de Lyon.
As Duperré took three first-class tickets to Fontainebleau, the undersized, grave-faced old man whom I had seen at the moment of our arrest followed him, and also took a ticket to the same destination. We entered an empty compartment where, just before the train moved off, the old man joined us.
He posed as a perfect stranger, but as soon as the train had left the platform my companion introduced him to me.
“I called last night and saw what had happened. Surely you have all three had a narrow escape!” he exclaimed.
“Yes,” said Duperré. “It was fortunate that Hylda recognized the sous-inspecteur Bossant in the Bois. She put me on my guard. I knew we should be arrested, so I took precautions to get rid of the gold and conceal the stones.”
“But where are they?” I asked eagerly, as the train ran through the first station out of Paris. “They are still hidden in the hotel, I suppose. We’ve all been searched!”
Madame laughed merrily, and removing her hat, unceremoniously tore out the three great feathers, the large quills of which she held up to the light before my eyes.