ted behind their large and important looking writing table, as though
judges behind a judgment seat, Messieurs Barbey and Nanteuil, in their
immense reception office, separated from the rest of the world by a
number of padded doors, had just said to Fandor, who was standing in
front of them:

"We are listening to you, monsieur."

Fandor had asked to see the bankers, and to see them only, stating that
he would wait if they were engaged. He had been shown into a handsomely
furnished room, then into another, then into a third; finally, he had
been ushered into the office of the partners. He had waited there for a
few minutes alone. He recognised it as the same room in which he had
interviewed Monsieur Barbey a few weeks earlier. Again he saw the same
hangings, the same fine rugs, the same velvet arm-chair of classic
design.

Then Barbey, solemn, and Nanteuil, elegant, a rose in his buttonhole,
had entered the room, their manner stiff-starched, showing no surprise,
accustomed as they were to receive visitors of all sorts and kinds: they
were polite, but not cordial.

Fandor, accustomed to society as he was, and audacious as he had to be
in the exercise of his profession, was intimidated, for a moment, by the
calm simplicity of the two men--these strictly conventional bankers, to
whom he was about to say such strange things, and make a most unexpected
proposition!

First of all, he made excuse on excuse for having disturbed the bankers
at their post time. Then anxiety overcame every consideration of
conventional propriety. Full of persuasive ardour, he went straight to
the point.

"Messieurs," declared he, "you are more deeply involved than you might
think in the mysterious affairs occupying the attention of the police at
this moment. So far, they have not got to the bottom of them. I, myself,
through the necessities of my profession, and owing to other
circumstances, have been drawn into an investigation, conjointly with
the detective department, an investigation which has had definite
results: it has enabled me to discover clues of the highest importance.
I learned, too late, alas, to prevent the tragedies, that certain
persons were the chosen victims of these mysterious criminals. Madame de
Vibray, the Princess Danidoff were condemned beforehand; the robbery of
your gold was carefully arranged. Now to my point! Messieurs, you
yourselves are sentenced: the execution of the sentence to be carried
out three days henc