other telegram. It was from
Rivero, and having been sent from Lyons, read: "All well. Just
returning to Montauban."

Later, I busied myself with time-tables and found that he would be due
to arrive about six o'clock on the following morning. Therefore I
possessed myself in patience, and I was still in bed when in the
morning he entered my room.

"Well?" he exclaimed in French, as he sank wearily into a chair. "I've
had a swift and weary journey. Sanz has been alarmed by the girl. Why,
I cannot tell. Did she go to see Despujol?"

"No," I replied. "She didn't see him, but went straight home."

"You have not ventured near Despujol, I hope?"

"No. I have hardly ventured into the town."

"Good. Well, we shall make a double arrest," he went on. "When the
train arrived at the junction at Montlucon at midnight Sanz, evidently
fearing lest he was followed, slipped out of the train and into
another on the opposite side of the platform. It is a favourite dodge
of elusive persons of his type. So, unseen by him, I also joined the
train, and we travelled across to Lyons. There he went to a house in
the Rue Chevreuil, close to the river, and when I had him safely there
I went to the Bureau of Police and asked that observation should be
kept upon him until such time that we in Spain should demand his
arrest and extradition. The Lyons police know me very well, so two
agents were at once detailed for that duty, and I immediately made my
way back here. It seems that Sanz is also wanted in France for a
motor-car exploit outside Orleans. Therefore our discovery is indeed a
lucky one!"

"Will Sanz be arrested?" I asked.

"Yes. I have already reported by telegram to Senor Andrade in Madrid.
He will at once ask them in Paris to order the arrest."

"And Despujol?"

"We have now to await his journey to Nimes to keep this mysterious
appointment with your friend."

"Not my friend," I remarked, "rather with my bitterest enemy!"

CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST

AT THE HOTEL LUXEMBOURG

As a detective Rivero was of outstanding shrewdness. He knew that more
could be gained by patience than by sharp activity. Hence he did not
go near the Rue de Lalande. Indeed, on the Saturday night we both left
Montauban together, and travelled by that slow, cross-country route
through the Aveyron, by way of Severac, down to the ancient city of
Nimes--that quaint, quiet old place which contains more monuments of
antiquity than any other town in Fr