"Valentin is innocent."
"How do you know that?"
"I have watched him. He did everything in his power, tonight, to a.s.sist me. Had he been in league with the kidnappers, he could, after he knew that I had secured the money, easily have driven the car to some quiet spot and taken it from me. I was waiting for some such move; but he, as you know, did not attempt it. I am sure that he is doing his best to a.s.sist us."
"In that event, perhaps you can induce him to tell you the secret of the box of cigarettes. I feel sure that this knowledge would go far toward solving the entire affair."
"I"ll have a talk with him tomorrow."
"Good! And now, if you are ready, we will return home at once."
"Dear old Richard!" said Grace, as the Prefect helped her into his automobile. "I wish I were with him tonight."
Lefevre smiled, and patted her hand. "So do I, my dear. But, remember, you have only to find Mr. Stapleton"s child, and you can return to your chickens and your cows with the knowledge that you have done both his parents and myself an inestimable service."
CHAPTER XI
It was close to eight o"clock next evening when Grace Duvall arrived at Mr. Stapleton"s house with the package containing the money.
She was accompanied, for safety, by two men from the Prefecture, who escorted her to the door.
She had paid a previous visit to the house, during the forenoon; but Mr.
Stapleton was not at home, and she was informed that he would not return until evening.
Mrs. Stapleton she saw again; but her talk with the latter resulted in nothing. The poor lady was in utter despair, after the fiasco of the night before, and spent the day in her rooms, weeping.
It was quite clear to Grace that her grief was very real. She made up her mind that, whatever the mystery of the gold-tipped cigarettes, Mrs.
Stapleton had nothing to do with it. Nor had the chauffeur, Valentin, been more communicative. He refused pointblank to explain the presence of the cigarettes in his room, or the reason why Mary Lanahan had written requesting him to destroy them. He said that it was a matter which concerned only the nurse and himself, and a.s.sured Grace that an answer to her questions would not a.s.sist in the least in recovering the missing child.
Mr. Stapleton was awaiting her in the library when she entered. The Prefect had telephoned him, advising him that the money was safe, and would be returned to him at once. Beyond that, he knew nothing, except what Duvall had told him the night before. Consequently he was in a decidedly bad humor.
Grace laid the money on the table. "Here is your hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Stapleton," she said.
The irate banker glared at her. "I cannot thank you for bringing it back, Miss," he growled. "Did I not particularly request that the police take no steps in the matter?"
"You did, Mr. Stapleton; but we acted for what we thought to be your best interests."
"Hang your thoughts about my best interests! I can take care of them.
If you had let things alone, I"d have my boy back by now."
"And these men, these criminals, who stole him, would be at liberty to do the same thing over again tomorrow."
Mr. Stapleton was silent for a moment. "How did the thing happen?" he presently asked.
Grace told him. "The real cause of our failure, we believe, lies at the door of your chauffeur, Francois." She explained the reasons for their suspicions.
Mr. Stapleton seemed puzzled. "The fellow seems honest enough."
"Where is he now?" Grace inquired.
"He asked permission to visit his people. As I had no use for him this evening, I told him he might go."
"Ah! In that event, we may learn something. He is being closely watched."
As Grace spoke, a servant entered the room. "There is a gentleman to see you, sir," he said to Mr. Stapleton.
"Who is it?"
"He would not give his name. He said his business was urgent."
"Where is he now?"
"In the reception room, sir."
Mr. Stapleton rose. "Excuse me a moment," he said, and went into the adjoining room.
The library was separated from the reception room by a short pa.s.sageway, or alcove, in which hung a pair of heavy curtains. Grace sat quietly, waiting for Mr. Stapleton to return. Suddenly she realized that she could distinctly hear what was going on in the room adjoining. For a moment she thought of going into the hall; then a word or two caught her attention, and in a moment she was close to the curtains, listening intently to a most remarkable conversation.
The man who had asked to see Mr. Stapleton stood in the reception room, near a broad window overlooking the street without. He was tall and somewhat heavily built; but what at once attracted Grace"s attention was his heavy black beard. She recognized him at once as the man who had broken into Valentin"s room to steal the cigarettes, and had later driven the car which brought her back to Paris after her abduction.
He was speaking to Mr. Stapleton in a quiet and a.s.sured tone, as though discussing a topic of no greater importance than the weather.
"Mr. Stapleton," he said, "I have your son in my possession. He is quite safe. I gave you an opportunity to have him returned to you last night; but you did not avail yourself of it."
"I did my best," exclaimed the astounded banker, mastering his desire to take the fellow by the throat.
"That may be; yet my plans were interfered with. You did not carry out my instructions."
"I did--to the letter."
The man frowned. "It is useless to discuss the matter now," he growled.
"I come to give you one more chance. It will be the last--"
"You d.a.m.ned scoundrel!"
The man with the black beard held up his hand. "It will avail nothing, Monsieur," he said, calmly, "to excite yourself. If you want back your boy, listen to what I have to say."
"Very well. Go ahead."
"First, I want no interference by the police, or by the man Duvall, who is acting for you."
Mr. Stapleton drew back in astonishment. "How do you know that Mr.
Duvall is acting for me?" he said.