lly examined the soil round the original hand-cart, in
the hope of finding some clear footprints of the thieves, or their
accomplices; but it was impossible to draw any conclusion from this
examination--the footmarks are intermingled, superimposed,
undistinguishable. It must be admitted the soil of the Metropolitan,
hereabouts, has been very much trampled over and beaten down so that it
is difficult to believe that researches, with the object of discovering
the robbers' footmarks, are likely to have any clear result.

"At the moment these lines have been written, the investigation in the
Metropolitan passageways still continues, and will, in all probability,
be continued late into the night. So far, the police admit that results
are meagre. Monsieur Havard considers it certain that the deed is a
premeditated one, carefully prepared, and that, consequently, the
explosion which caused the catastrophe was a deliberate act of violence.
On the other hand, Monsieur Nanteuil declares that outside the parties
interested, that is to say, the Barbey-Nanteuil bank and the Comptoir
d'Escomptes, who were to receive the bullion, not a soul could know of
the transfer on that particular morning. But the staffs of the bank and
of the Comptoir National d'Escomptes are absolutely trustworthy: their
honour has never been questioned.

"It is evident that such a daring and desperate deed, carried through so
successfully in the galleries of the Metropolitan, in the sight of all
Paris, at eleven o'clock in the morning, could only be the work of a
band of criminals, numerous and perfectly organised.

"'Are we returning to the days of--Fantomas?'

"Let us add, that owing to the number of individuals probably involved,
and the daring nature of the crime, Monsieur Havard considers that it
will be extremely difficult for the guilty persons to escape from the
police."

Jerome Fandor had just finished correcting this sensational article,
when slips from the Havas Agency arrived at _La Capitale_.

Our journalist cast his eyes over them, thinking he might find some
piece of news which had come to hand at the last minute. As he read he
grew pale. He struck his writing-table a violent blow with his fist.

"For all that, I am not mad!" he cried.

And, holding his head between his hands, spelling out each word, he
reread the following telegram from the Havas Agency:

_Affair of the rue du Quatre Septembre_

"_At the last moment of going t