"But," interrupted Monsieur Barbey, who had grown more and more serious.
"What are you aiming at?"
Fandor felt that the decisive moment had arrived. Bending across the table, his face almost touching the faces of the two men, he said slowly and distinctly:
"Messieurs, I have asked _La Capitale_ to grant me three days" leave. I have brought a little travelling bag with me: here it is! Leaving home as I did about half an hour ago, I consider I have arrived at the end of my journey!... Will you offer me hospitality for the next forty-eight hours?... I know that you, Monsieur Nanteuil, live above your offices, whilst Monsieur Barbey goes home every evening to his place at Saint Germain. I ask you to give up your room to me, for I am determined not to leave here for an instant!"
Fandor, in his eagerness, had spoken faster and faster, and his heart was beating violently. He stared fixedly at the two men; he quite expected that his demand would excite astonishment; that objections would be raised; and he was ready with a crowd of arguments by which to convince them and carry his point.... But, the surprise was his, for the bankers did not seem particularly astonished.
They consulted each other with a look. Then, as Barbey opened his mouth to reply, Nanteuil began to speak, rising politely at the same time.
"Monsieur Fandor, your last statements and remarks are too serious to be pa.s.sed over lightly. Your offer is too generous to be rejected without consideration. Will you allow us to retire for a minute or two: my partner and I will discuss the question."
For about ten minutes Fandor marched up and down the sumptuous room.
Then one of the padded doors opened silently, and Barbey entered more solemn than ever: Nanteuil was smiling.
"Monsieur," said Barbey, in weighty tones, "my partner and I, in view of the exceptional seriousness of the situation, for your words carry conviction--have come to a decision: we beg of you to consider yourself our guest from this moment, and to consider this house as your own!"
"And it is understood, of course, that you dine with us this evening!"
added Nanteuil with friendly graciousness. "Monsieur Barbey will be of the party, and will pa.s.s the night in our company ... and you can count on it, that we shall drink a good bottle of Burgundy to enable us to await with patience and serenity the audacious individuals you say we are to expect.... Dear Monsieur Fandor, here are some ill.u.s.trated papers with some gay sketches of dear little women to exercise your patience over, whilst we sign our outgoing letters as fast as possible...."
XXVI
IN THE TRAP
The servant had retired, leaving the three men to their fruit and wine.
His hosts turned to Fandor in mute interrogation.... But Fandor continued to peel a superb peach with the utmost coolness: he did not seem disposed to talk.
Barbey broke the silence.
"Tell me, now that your first day on guard is ended, and you have not left us for a moment--have you noticed anything at all suspicious?"
Fandor shook his head. "Nothing whatever."
This was not strictly true; for he had noticed an individual in the bank, occupied in repairing the telephone. He had made discreet inquiries, and had been told that he was a workman sent by the State, at the request of the bankers, to see that the lines were in good working order. This explanation had at first set his mind at rest regarding the comings and goings of this individual.
But, just when he was going in to dinner at seven o"clock, Fandor had come across the man in the vestibule of the bank making preparations to depart. It had been a painful surprise for Fandor. He recognised the man, but could not remember exactly who he was, or where he had seen him....
Was this workman one of the mysterious band of criminals who, he was more and more convinced, meant to strike a blow at Monsieur Barbey, and his partner, Nanteuil?
If Fandor had had anything to go upon, he would have had the man shadowed. But he had no sure ground for his suspicions; besides, sent by the State, the man was most probably what he seemed. As he was working for the Government, he could easily be traced should such a step be found necessary. But to make certain that all was as it should be, Fandor had examined the work done by this individual during the day.
There was nothing wrong with it: beyond a doubt, the man was an expert.
Therefore, Fandor had felt justified in saying that he had noticed nothing suspicious during the day.
"So much the worse," remarked Monsieur Barbey, with a shrug....
"Probably the individuals who are threatening us, have been warned of your presence here, and are on their guard. I rejoice as far as we are concerned; but, as regards the general interest, I almost regret it: that your trap should prove effective, is what we must wish."
"Have no fear, dear Monsieur Barbey, it will not be laid in vain!
Knowing the cunning, the cleverness of my adversaries, I have not the least doubt they know I am here; but I also know that the audacity of these criminals is such, that my presence here would not deter them from making their attempt. They believe themselves the stronger, but I hope to undeceive them."
"What is your plan of campaign to-night?" asked Monsieur Nanteuil.
"Before replying to that, will you show me all the means of access to the house?"
"With the greatest pleasure."
The three men left the dining-room: then went into the vestibule.
"Our courtyard gate is at the far end of the house, on the right," said Nanteuil. "On the left, there are the Bank offices: they occupy this ground floor. The only entrance to them is through this vestibule. This door closed, it is impossible to get in."
"Not by the windows looking on to the street?" asked Fandor.
"No, those windows have heavy iron bars before them. To remove them would be difficult--very ... As to the windows looking on to the garden, they are closed every evening--you can see for yourself--by strong wooden shutters fastened on the inside."
"So the Bank offices are perfectly protected?" said Fandor.
"We believe so. Now, come upstairs to the floor above!... Here is a large corridor, and that door, on the right, opens into a library. The two rooms which come next, are my own room and a dressing-room. The other rooms are unoccupied."
"Does your room face the street or the garden?" asked Fandor.
"The garden."
"And the windows?"
"The windows?"
"Yes. Would it be difficult, or impossible to climb up to them?"
"It would be difficult, but not impossible. No one ever enters the garden. If absolutely necessary, a ladder could be placed against them, a square of gla.s.s could be cut out, and the fastening could be undone ... but come and see the room, you can then judge for yourself."
Fandor inspected the room most carefully. The banker was right. It would be comparatively easy to get into the room by the window; but the other entrances to the room could be easily watched; they resolved themselves into one door, which opened on to the corridor.
Monsieur Nanteuil"s room was lightly furnished: he evidently favoured the modern method: it was a bare apartment, but it was hygienic.
"Ah," said Fandor, "the bed has its back to the door, and faces the window. Very right. You have electric light, I see, near the fireplace, and above your bed. Then it is possible to switch on a bright light at any time.... Valuable, that!"
Having finished a minute inspection of the room, and, to the amus.e.m.e.nt of the bankers, having looked under the bed to make sure that no one had hidden himself beneath it, Fandor declared:
"I am decidedly pleased with this room, and if you see no objection, I wish to stay here and await the visitors of to-night."
"You think of sleeping here alone?"
"Alone! Decidedly, I do! It is pretty certain that these men know every inch of your flat; and if they are the sort I take them to be, they will make certain that everything here is as usual before attempting to attack the Bank. I do not wish them to be frightened off by finding a companion at my side, and I particularly wish them to mistake me for you...."