chauffeur and the four people who had entered Daubrecq's house. Were
they associates of the marquis, compromised in the canal affair like
himself? Were they men in his pay? Nobody knew.

The whole search, consequently, had to be concentrated upon the marquis
and the country-seats and houses which he might possess at a certain
distance from Paris, a distance which, allowing for the average speed
of a motor-car and the inevitable stoppages, could be put at sixty to
ninety miles.

Now d'Albufex, having sold everything that he ever had, possessed
neither country-houses nor landed estates.

They turned their attention to the marquis' relations and intimate
friends. Was he able on this side to dispose of some safe retreat in
which to imprison Daubrecq?

The result was equally fruitless.

And the days passed. And what days for Clarisse Mergy! Each of them
brought Gilbert nearer to the terrible day of reckoning. Each of
them meant twenty-four hours less from the date which Clarisse had
instinctively fixed in her mind. And she said to Lupin, who was racked
with the same anxiety:

"Fifty-five days more... Fifty days more... What can one do in so few
days?... Oh, I beg of you... I beg of you..."

What could they do indeed? Lupin, who would not leave the task of
watching the marquis to any one but himself, practically lived without
sleeping. But the marquis had resumed his regular life; and, doubtless
suspecting something, did not risk going away.

Once alone, he went down to the Duc de Montmaur's, in the daytime. The
duke kept a pack of boar-hounds, with which he hunted the Forest of
Durlaine. D'Albufex maintained no relations with him outside the hunt.

"It is hardly likely," said Prasville, "that the Duc de Montmaur, an
exceedingly wealthy man, who is interested only in his estates and
his hunting and takes no part in politics, should lend himself to the
illegal detention of Daubrecq the deputy in his chateau."

Lupin agreed; but, as he did not wish to leave anything to chance,
the next week, seeing d'Albufex go out one morning in riding-dress, he
followed him to the Gare du Nord and took the same train.

He got out at Aumale, where d'Albufex found a carriage at the station
which took him to the Chateau de Montmaur.

Lupin lunched quietly, hired a bicycle and came in view of the house at
the moment when the guests were going into the park, in motor-cars or
mounted. The Marquis d'Albufex was one of the horsemen.