. That will save time. We must expedite the preliminary investigation.
The important thing is the pursuit of Arsene Lupin. Your jewels,
remember! Let there be no mistake. Guillaume Berlat, a friend of your
husband."

"I understand....Guillaume Berlat."

She was already calling and gesticulating. As soon as the train stopped,
several men entered the compartment. The critical moment had come.

Panting for breath, the lady exclaimed:

"Arsene Lupin.... he attacked us.... he stole my jewels....I am Madame
Renaud.... my husband is a director of the penitentiary service....Ah!
here is my brother, Georges Ardelle, director of the Credit
Rouennais.... you must know...."

She embraced a young man who had just joined us, and whom the commissary
saluted. Then she continued, weeping:

"Yes, Arsene Lupin.... while monsieur was sleeping, he seized him by the
throat....Mon. Berlat, a friend of my husband."

The commissary asked:

"But where is Arsene Lupin?"

"He leaped from the train, when passing through the tunnel."

"Are you sure that it was he?"

"Am I sure! I recognized him perfectly. Besides, he was seen at the
Saint-Lazare station. He wore a soft hat---"

"No, a hard felt, like that," said the commissary, pointing to my hat.

"He had a soft hat, I am sure," repeated Madame Renaud, "and a gray
overcoat."

"Yes, that is right," replied the commissary, "the telegram says he wore
a gray overcoat with a black velvet collar."

"Exactly, a black velvet collar," exclaimed Madame Renaud, triumphantly.

I breathed freely. Ah! the excellent friend I had in that little woman.

The police agents had now released me. I bit my lips until they ran
blood. Stooping over, with my handkerchief over my mouth, an attitude
quite natural in a person who has remained for a long time in an
uncomfortable position, and whose mouth shows the bloody marks of the
gag, I addressed the commissary, in a weak voice:

"Monsieur, it was Arsene Lupin. There is no doubt about that. If we make
haste, he can be caught yet. I think I may be of some service to you."

The railway car, in which the crime occurred, was detached from the
train to serve as a mute witness at the official investigation. The
train continued on its way to Havre. We were then conducted to the
station-master's office through a crowd of curious spectators.

Then, I had a sudden access of doubt and discretion. Under some pretext
or other, I must gain my automobile, and escap