“’It cannot be; M. le marquis is mistaken.  Who would dare touch his papers?’

“Bast!  Instead of listening to me, he flourished an open letter, and said: 

“‘This letter has been photographed! here is proof of it!’ and he pointed to a little yellow spot on the paper, shrieking out, ’Look!  Smell!  Smell it, you devil!  It is—­’ I forget the name he called it, but some acid used by photographers.”

“I know, I know,” said M. Verduret; “go on; what next?”

“Then, patron, we had a scene; what a scene!  He ended by seizing me by the throat, and shaking me like a plum-tree, saying he would shake me until I told him who I was, what I knew, and where I came from.  As if I knew, myself!  I was obliged to account for every minute of my time since I had been in his service.  The devil was worse than a judge of instruction, in his questions.  Then he sent for the hotel porter, who had charge of the front door, and questioned him closely, but in English, so that I could not understand.  After a while, he cooled down, and when the boy was gone, presented me with twenty francs, saying, ’I am sorry I was so sharp with you; you are too stupid to have been guilty of the offence.’”

“He said that, did he?”

“He used those very words to my face, patron.”

“And you think he meant what he said?”

“Certainly I do.”

The fat man smiled, and whistled a little tune expressive of contempt.

“If you think that,” he said, “Clameran was right in his estimate of your brilliancy.”

It was easy to see that Joseph Dubois was anxious to hear his patron’s grounds for considering him stupid, but dared not ask.

“I suppose I am stupid, if you think so,” said poor Fanferlot humbly.  “Well, after he had done blustering about the letters, M. le marquis dressed, and went out.  He did not want his carriage, but I saw him hire a cab at the hotel door.  I thought he had perhaps disappeared forever; but I was mistaken.  About five o’clock he returned as gay as a bull-finch.  During his absence, I had telegraphed to you.”

“What! did you not follow him?”

“I stayed on the spot in case of his return; but one of our friends kept watch on him, and this friend gave me a report of my dandy’s movements.  First he went to a broker’s, then to the bank and discount office:  so he must be collecting his money to take a little trip.”

“Is that all he did?”

“That is all, patron.  But I must tell you how the rascals tried to shut up, ‘administratively,’ you understand, Mlle. Palmyre.  Fortunately you had anticipated something of the kind, and given orders to watch over her safety.  But for you, she would now be in prison.”

Joseph looked up to the ceiling by way of trying to remember something more.  Finding nothing there, he said: 

“That is all.  I rather think M. Patrigent will rub his hands with delight when I carry him my report.  He did not expect to see me any more, and has no idea of the facts I have collected to swell the size of his FILE 113.”