her mouth:

"Enough! Be quiet!... I entreat you to be quiet.... Gilbert shall not
die..."

With irresistible authority, he dragged her away like a subdued child
that suddenly becomes obedient; but, at the moment of opening the door,
he turned to Prasville:

"Wait for me here, monsieur," he commanded, in an imperative tone. "If
you care about that list of the Twenty-seven, the real list, wait for
me. I shall be back in an hour, in two hours, at most; and then we will
talk business."

And abruptly, to Clarisse:

"And you, madame, a little courage yet. I command you to show courage,
in Gilbert's name."

He went away, through the passages, down the stairs, with a jerky step,
holding Clarisse under the arm, as he might have held a lay-figure,
supporting her, carrying her almost. A court-yard, another court-yard,
then the street.

Meanwhile, Prasville, surprised at first, bewildered by the course of
events, was gradually recovering his composure and thinking. He thought
of that M. Nicole, a mere supernumerary at first, who played beside
Clarisse the part of one of those advisers to whom we cling in the
serious crises of our lives and who suddenly, shaking off his torpor,
appeared in the full light of day, resolute, masterful, mettlesome,
brimming over with daring, ready to overthrow all the obstacles that
fate placed on his path.

Who was there that was capable of acting thus?

Prasville started. The question had no sooner occurred to his mind than
the answer flashed on him, with absolute certainty. All the proofs rose
up, each more exact, each more convincing than the last.

Hurriedly he rang. Hurriedly he sent for the chief detective-inspector
on duty. And, feverishly:

"Were you in the waiting-room, chief-inspector?"

"Yes, monsieur le secretaire-general."

"Did you see a gentleman and a lady go out?"

"Yes."

"Would you know the man again?"

"Yes."

"Then don't lose a moment, chief-inspector. Take six inspectors with
you. Go to the Place de Clichy. Make inquiries about a man called Nicole
and watch the house. The Nicole man is on his way back there."

"And if he comes out, monsieur le secretaire-general?"

"Arrest him. Here's a warrant."

He sat down to his desk and wrote a name on a form:

"Here you are, chief-inspector. I will let the chief-detective know."

The chief-inspector seemed staggered:

"But you spoke to me of a man called Nicole, monsieur le
secretaire-general."

"Well?"