"Well, this bit comes from a walking-stick, or rather a sort of loaded

cane, or life-preserver, the knob of which is formed of a piece of
carved ivory. When you look at the knob in a certain way, you end by

seeing that the outline represents the profile of the Little Corporal.
hat you have in your hand, monsieur le secretaire-general, is a bit of

the ivory knob at the top of a half-pay officer's life-preserver."
"Yes," said Prasville, examining the exhibit, "yes, I can make out a

profile... but I don't see the inference... "
"The inference is very simple. Among Daubrecq's victims, among those

whose names are inscribed on the famous list, is the descendant of a
Corsican family in Napoleon's service, which derived its wealth and

title from the emperor and was afterward ruined under the Restoration.
It is ten to one that this descendant, who was the leader of the

Bonapartist party a few years ago, was the fifth person hiding in the
motor-car. Need I state his name?"

"The Marquis d'Albufex?" said Prasville.
"The Marquis d'Albufex," said M. Nicole.

M. Nicole, who no longer seemed in the least worried with his hat, his
glove and his umbrella, rose and said to Prasville:

"Monsieur le secretaire-general, I might have kept my discovery to
myself, and not told you of it until after the final victory, that is,

after bringing you the list of the Twenty-seven. But matters are urgent.
Daubrecq's disappearance, contrary to what his kidnappers expect, may

hasten on the catastrophe which you wish to avert. We must therefore
act with all speed. Monsieur le secretaire-general, I ask for your

immediate and practical assistance."
"In what way can I help you?" asked Prasville, who was beginning to be

impressed by his quaint visitor.
"By giving me, to-morrow, those particulars about the Marquis d'Albufex

which it would take me personally several days to collect."
Prasville seemed to hesitate and turned his head toward Mme. Mergy.

Clarisse said:
"I beg of you to accept M. Nicole's services. He is an invaluable and

devoted ally. I will answer for him as I would for myself."
"What particulars do you require, monsieur?" asked Prasville.

"Everything that concerns the Marquis d'Albufex: the position of his
family, the way in which he spends his time, his family connections,

the properties which he owns in Paris and in the country."
Prasville objected:

"After all, whether it's the marquis or another, Daubrecq's kidnapper
is working on our behalf, seeing that, by capturing the list, he disarms

Daubrecq."
"And who says, monsieur le secretaire-general, that he is not working

on his own behalf?"
"That is not possible, as his name is on the list."

"And suppose he erases it? Suppose you then find yourself dealing with
a second blackmailer, even more grasping and more powerfui than the

first and one who, as a political adversary, is in a better position
than Daubrecq to maintain the contest?"

The secretary-general was struck by the argument. After a moment's
thought, he said:

"Come and see me in my office at four o'clock tomorrow. I will give you
the particulars. What is your address, in case I should want you?"

"M. Nicole, 25, Place de Clichy. I am staying at a friend's flat, which
he has lent me during his absence."

The interview was at an end. M. Nicole thanked the secretary-general,
with a very low bow, and walked out, accompanied by Mme. Mergy:

"That's an excellent piece of work," he said, outside, rubbing his hands.
"I can march into the police-office whenever I like, and set the whole

lot to work."
Mme. Mergy, who was less hopefully inclined, said:

"Alas, will you be in time? What terrifies me is the thought that the
list may be destroyed."

"Goodness gracious me, by whom? By Daubrecq?"
"No, but by the marquis, when he gets hold of it."

"He hasn't got it yet! Daubrecq will resist long enough, at any rate,
for us to reach him. Just think! Prasville is at my orders!"

"Suppose he discovers who you are? The least inquiry will prove that
there is no such person as M. Nicole.

"But it will not prove that M. Nicole is the same person as Arsene Lupin.
Besides, make yourself easy. Prasville is not only beneath contempt as

a detective: he has but one aim in life, which is to destroy his old
enemy, Daubrecq. To achieve that aim, all means are equally good; and

he will not waste time in verifying the identity of a M. Nicole who
promises him Daubrecq. Not to mention that I was brought by you and

that, when all is said, my little gifts did dazzle him to some extent.
So let us go ahead boldly."

Clarisse always recovered confidence in Lupin's presence. The future
seemed less appalling to her; and she admitted, she forced herself to

admit, that the chances of saving Gilbert were not lessened by that
hideous death-sentence. But he could not prevail upon her to return to

Brittany. She wanted to fight by his side. She wanted to be there and
share all his hopes and all his disappointments.

The next day the inquiries of the police confirmed what Prasville and
Lupin already knew. The Marquis d'Albufex had been very deeply involved

in the business of the canal, so deeply that Prince Napoleon was obliged
to remove him from the management of his political campaign in France;

and he kept up his very extravagant style of living only by dint of
constant loans and makeshifts. On the other hand, in so far as concerned

the kidnapping of Daubrecq, it was ascertained that, contrary to his
usual custom, the marquis had not appeared in his club between six and

seven that evening and had not dined at home. He did not come back
until midnight; and then he came on foot.

M. Nicole's accusation, therefore, was receiving an early proof.
Unfortunately - and Lupin was no more successful in his own attempts

- it was impossible to obtain the least clue as to the motor-car, the
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