He unlocked the door and went out himself on to the landing.  He looked down the stairs and up the stairs; then he beckoned Perrichet to him.

“Go!” he whispered.  “Be quick, and when you come back hide the bag carefully under your coat.”

Perrichet went down the stairs with pride written upon his face.  Was he not assisting the great M. Hanaud from the Surete in Paris?  Hanaud returned into Mme. Dauvray’s room and closed the door.  He looked into the eyes of his companions.

“Can’t you see the scene?” he asked with a queer smile of excitement.  He had forgotten Wethermill; he had forgotten even the dead woman shrouded beneath the sheet.  He was absorbed.  His eyes were bright, his whole face vivid with life.  Ricardo saw the real man at this moment—­and feared for the happiness of Harry Wethermill.  For nothing would Hanaud now turn aside until he had reached the truth and set his hands upon the quarry.  Of that Ricardo felt sure.  He was trying now to make his companions visualise just what he saw and understood.

“Can’t you see it?  The old woman locking up her jewels in this safe every night before the eyes of her maid or her companion, and then, as soon as she was alone, taking them stealthily out of the safe and hiding them in this secret place.  But I tell you—­this is human.  Yes, it is interesting just because it is so human.  Then picture to yourselves last night, the murderers opening this safe and finding nothing—­oh, but nothing!—­and ransacking the room in deadly haste, kicking up the rugs, forcing open the drawers, and always finding nothing—­nothing—­nothing.  Think of their rage, their stupefaction, and finally their fear!  They must go, and with one pearl necklace, when they had hoped to reap a great fortune.  Oh, but this is interesting—­yes, I tell you—­I, who have seen many strange things—­this is interesting.”

Perrichet returned with a canvas bag, into which Hanaud placed the jewel-cases.  He sealed the bag in the presence of the four men and handed it to Besnard.  He replaced the block of wood in the floor, covered it over again with the rug, and rose to his feet.

“Listen!” he said, in a low voice, and with a gravity which impressed them all.  “There is something in this house which I do not understand.  I have told you so.  I tell you something more now.  I am afraid—­I am afraid.”  And the word startled his hearers like a thunderclap, though it was breathed no louder than a whisper, “Yes, my friends,” he repeated, nodding his head, “terribly afraid.”  And upon the others fell a discomfort, an awe, as though something sinister and dangerous were present in the room and close to them.  So vivid was the feeling, instinctively they drew nearer together.  “Now, I warn you solemnly.  There must be no whisper that these jewels have been discovered; no newspaper must publish a hint of it; no one must suspect that here in this room we have found them.  Is that understood?”