"Well, Colonel, I do not much like that, but what I like still less is, that, a few days ago, I had occasion to see Vagualame ... and this agent far from bringing me details of Nichoune"s death, at first go off wanted to deny that he had been at Chalons! I could swear he was going to declare he had not been there, when a reply of my own--a blunder, I confess it--I did not take time to think--informed him that I knew of his visit to Nichoune."
Colonel Hofferman weighed the gravity of de Loubersac"s words; he strode along, head bent, hands clasped behind his back, gazing with unseeing eyes at the pebbles on the path. At last he spoke.
"Tell me how you knew for certain that Nichoune had received a visit from Vagualame!"
"For some time past, Colonel, Vagualame has been under the eye of the officer charged with the supervision of our spies, de Loreuil. Under the guise of Aunt Palmyra he discovered that Nichoune had been murdered. This was the morning after her interview with Vagualame. The discovery, I may tell you, did not take de Loreuil altogether by surprise. He had observed Vagualame"s att.i.tude towards the girl, and had considered it queer--suspiciously so."
"This is serious, but it is not sufficiently definite," p.r.o.nounced Colonel Hofferman.... "Let us admit that Vagualame has played a double game, has been at once traitor and spy. That being so, he may have murdered Nichoune; but as to incriminating this agent whom we have known a long time ... well ... you have merely a vague indication to go upon ... the kind of reticence, or what you thought was reticence, he wished to maintain regarding his journey to Chalons."
"Yes," admitted de Loubersac, "if that were all I had to go upon, it would amount to little."
"You know something else?"
"I know that I arranged to meet this agent yesterday in the Garden, as our custom is, that I waited there, that he never turned up."
Colonel Hofferman took de Loubersac"s arm as they walked slowly back to the reception-rooms.
"What you have just told me is exceedingly serious: we must enquire into this at once--without loss of time. If Vagualame has really fled, the probability is that he is Nichoune"s murderer.... In that case, there is nothing to prevent our suspecting him of no end of things which I need not particularise."...
The colonel pointed to an individual standing by a buffet near the entrance to the great reception-room.
"Let us go the other way," said he. "There is Monsieur Havard! I do not at all want to meet him!... If we have to arrest Vagualame, it would be unnecessary to take Police Headquarters into our confidence."
"Undoubtedly, Colonel."
"Then let us keep clear of Monsieur Havard! Devote your whole attention to clearing up the questions raised by your talk. Find Vagualame for me in three days. If you have not run him to earth, then set our special enquiry men on his track.... I shall see you to-morrow at the Ministry--six sharp."
Whilst Colonel Hofferman and Lieutenant de Loubersac were having their talk, Jerome Fandor, who was also at the Elysee ball, in his own proper person, was busying himself with the affairs which had led him to consider that the murder of Captain Brocq was a crime which must be imputed to one of those foreign spies with which France was now swarming. At Verdun, along the entire frontier, there were nests of these noxious vermin.
Fandor was, of course, still stationed at Verdun. He had arrived early at the ball, hoping to pick up information from some friend as to how the Second Bureau was taking the disappearance of Corporal Vinson. Did the Second Bureau suspect anything?... What?... Had Nichoune"s murder been explained?
Fandor stationed himself near the entrance to the first reception-room, watching all who entered, seeking the welcome face of friend or acquaintance.
Someone slapped him on the shoulder.
"Hullo, Fandor! Are you reporting the official fetes nowadays?"
"You, Bonnet? What a jolly surprise! I have heard nothing of you for ages. How goes it?"
"My dear fellow, good luck has come my way at last!... I am police magistrate at Chalons! There"s news for you!"
"By Jove, Bonnet! That is good hearing! You arrive here in the very nick of time!"
"Old Bonnet at Chalons and police magistrate!" thought Fandor. "What a bit of luck for me!"
"I want to ask the police magistrate of Chalons most interesting things," said Fandor, smiling at his friend.
"Information for a report?" queried Bonnet.
"Just so."
Fandor drew his "old Bonnet" away from the crowd of eyes and ears around them. They came on an empty little smoking-room. The very place!
"Now tell me, my dear Bonnet, have you not been engaged on a recent case--the death of a little singer, called."...
"Nichoune?... That is so. My first case at Chalons."
"Ah!... Now, just tell me!"
The examining magistrate shook his head.
"I cannot tell you much, for the good reason that this affair is as mysterious as can be, and is giving me no end of trouble.... You knew Nichoune, Fandor?"
"Yes--and no.... I would give a good deal, though, to know who her murderer is!"
"I also," said Bonnet, smiling. "Would I not like to put my hand on the collar of that individual!... Naturally, I want to carry through the enquiry with flying colours!"
"Have you no idea as to who the murderer might be?"
Police Magistrate Bonnet rose.
"That is as may be!... It seems that on the eve of her death, this Nichoune received a visit from an old man--a beggar--whom I am unable to identify--who has vanished into thin air.... Would you like me to keep you informed? Rue Richer is still your address?"
"Yes. It would be awfully kind of you to write when you have any fresh facts to disclose about this case. I cannot explain to you all the importance I attach to that, but it is enormous!"
"It is understood, then! Count on me. I shall tell you all I can without breaking professional secrecy.... Shall we take a turn through the rooms, old boy?"
"If you like, my dear Bonnet."
The two men strolled through the thinning rooms, talking of what all the world might hear.
"Dear boy, I must leave you," said Fandor suddenly.... "An interview!... Till our next meeting!"
Fandor went up to a man standing in a doorway, gazing disdainfully at the couples revolving in the centre of the room.
"Will you grant me a word or two, Monsieur Havard?" asked Fandor respectfully.
The chief of police brightened.
"Four, if you like, my good Fandor, I am bored to death. I would rather submit to your indiscreet questioning than stick here in a brown study--black, I might say--with only my own thoughts for company."
"Good heavens, Chief! What is troubling you to such an extent?"
Monsieur Havard laughed.
"Oh, I will tell you the reason of this melancholy mood!... You are on pretty intimate terms with Juve, are you not?"