e surprise at the question.

"Lupin! Lupin! Everybody has Lupin on the brain!" said M. Formery
impatiently. "I'm sick of hearing his name. This letter and these
signatures are just as likely to be forgeries as not."

"I wonder if Guerchard will take that view," said the Duke.

"Guerchard? Surely we're not going to be cluttered up with Guerchard.
He has Lupin on the brain worse than any one else."

"But M. Gournay-Martin particularly asked me to send for Guerchard if I
arrived too late to prevent the burglary. He would never forgive me if
I had neglected his request: so I telephoned for him--to the Prefecture
of Police," said the Duke.

"Oh, well, if you've already telephoned for him. But it was
unnecessary--absolutely unnecessary," said M. Formery sharply.

"I didn't know," said the Duke politely.

"Oh, there was no harm in it--it doesn't matter," said M. Formery in a
discontented tone with a discontented air.

He walked slowly round the room, paused by the windows, looked at the
ladder, and scanned the garden:

"Arsene Lupin," he said scornfully. "Arsene Lupin doesn't leave traces
all over the place. There's nothing but traces. Are we going to have
that silly Lupin joke all over again?"

"I think, sir, that this time joke is the word, for this is a burglary
pure and simple," said the inspector.

"Yes, it's plain as daylight," said M. Formery "The burglars came in by
this window, and they went out by it."

He crossed the room to a tall safe which stood before the unused door.
The safe was covered with velvet, and velvet curtains hung before its
door. He drew the curtains, and tried the handle of the door of the
safe. It did not turn; the safe was locked.

"As far as I can see, they haven't touched this," said M. Formery.

"Thank goodness for that," said the Duke. "I believe, or at least my
fiancee does, that M. Gournay-Martin keeps the most precious thing in
his collection in that safe--the coronet."

"What! the famous coronet of the Princesse de Lamballe?" said M.
Formery.

"Yes," said the Duke.

"But according to your report, inspector, the letter signed 'Lupin'
announced that he was going to steal the coronet also."

"It did--in so many words," said the Duke.

"Well, here is a further proof that we're not dealing with Lupin. That
rascal would certainly have put his threat into execution, M. Formery,"
said the inspector.

"Who's in charge of the house?" said M. Formery.

"The concierge, his