ibray, April 3. Jacques Dollon._
_Dep.... idem._
_Sonia Danidoff, April 12._
_Barbey-Nanteuil, May 15._
_Gerin...?_
_Madame B...?_
_Thomery, during May._
_Barbey-Nanteuil, end May._

Fandor could not find anything more on the paper. Whilst Elizabeth sat
silent, Fandor reflected:

"Baroness de Vibray, April 3. Jacques Dollon ... these correspond
exactly with the commencement of this mysterious affair: the two first
deaths, and the date of their death.... What does _Dep._ signify? The
initials of a name--or--yes, Dep ... Depot idem--yes, _Depot the same
day!_ That's it! _Sonia Danidoff, April 12_ ... the full name, the exact
date. _Barbey-Nanteuil, May 15_: the affair of rue du Quatre Septembre
occurred May 20; that's pretty near. Two more names, and one date which
exactly tallies. _Gerin?_... _Madame B_....? Who are they? Why no date?
Ah, Gerin, lawyer of Madame de Vibray, a crime planned, without date,
perhaps because he was not indispensable ... and _Thomery_! Thomery, who
died in the middle of May, as this plan indicates! But, how about the
last line? _Barbey-Nanteuil, end of May?_ Oh, beyond a doubt the bankers
were to be victims of some fresh aggression on the part of the
mysterious author of these lines!"

"_Barbey-Nanteuil, end of May!_ We are at the 28th of the month: only
three more days before the sinister date falls due! Are they to be
attacked, or is it their money? How to defend them? How organise a trap
for the mice?"

Suddenly, Fandor looked up, saw Elizabeth's anxiety, and said quietly:

"Well, this list agrees in every particular with the description you
gave me of it, and I don't quite see what fresh information we are
likely to get from it. However, will you leave it with me?"

Fandor rose.

"Ah, there is one point which has just occurred to me"--Fandor's voice
trembled a good deal--"Do you know for a fact that your brother had
bought Thomery shares?"

"He had very few, three or four. I think the Barbey-Nanteuil got them
for him."

"And your brother had to pay for them by a certain date?"

"Yes."

Fandor now felt he must tear himself away. He was deeply moved.

"Elizabeth!... Elizabeth!" he cried. "I swear to you we shall clear up
these dreadful mysteries amidst which we live, and more, you and I! Only
have confidence, I implore you! Grant me a week's grace, less even!"
Fandor pressed Elizabeth's hands as though he could never let them go!
Such little han