XXV
A MOUSE TRAP
Jerome Fandor had been ringing Juve's door bell in vain: the greatdetective was not at home.
"What the deuce is he doing? What has become of him? Never have I neededhis advice as I need it now!... His support, encouragement--what acomfort they would be!... It is possible he would have dissuaded meagainst the attempt--or, he might have joined forces with me! Hang itall! It was a jolly bad move on Juve's part to make himself scarce atsuch a critical moment for me!... It is a long time, too, since I hadnews of him! Were I not certain that he has sound reasons for hisabsence--Juve never acts haphazard--I should be desperately anxious!"
Fandor consulted his watch--four o'clock! He had time then! He couldthink over all the dramatic events in which he had been involved duringthe past weeks, beginning with the rue Norvins affair, and ending--how,and when?
At last, our journalist arrived before the immense building which formsthe corner of the rue de Clichy. He saw, in front of him, the tallwindows of the flat occupied by Nanteuil: on the ground floor were thebank offices.
"Well," thought Fandor, "I certainly am going to do an unconventionalthing. If my summing up of them is right, these bankers are balanced,calm, cold, without imagination, and distrusting it in others. I shallhave to be eloquent to convince them, to make them listen to me and getthem to do what I want. Will they show me the door, as though I were anintriguer or a madman?... I shall not let them do it!... Ah, they willowe me a fine candle if I have the good luck.... Whether there will begood luck for my venture, and gratitude from the bankers, remains to beseen.... Here goes!..."
* * * * *
Seated behind their large and important looking writing table, as thoughjudges behind a judgment seat, Messieurs Barbey and Nanteuil, in theirimmense reception office, separated from the rest of the world by anumber of padded doors, had just said to Fandor, who was standing infront of them:
"We are listening to you, monsieur."
Fandor had asked to see the bankers, and to see them only, stating thathe would wait if they were engaged. He had been shown into a handsomelyfurnished room, then into another, then into a third; finally, he hadbeen ushered into the office of the partners. He had waited there for afew minutes alone. He recognised it as the same room in which he hadinterviewed Monsieur Barbey a few weeks earlier. Again he saw the samehangings, the same fine rugs, the same velvet arm-chair of classicdesign.
Then Barbey, solemn, and Nanteuil, elegant, a rose in his buttonhole,had entered the room, their manner stiff-starched, showing no surprise,accustomed as they were to receive visitors of all sorts and kinds: theywere polite, but not cordial.
Fandor, accustomed to society as he was, and audacious as he had to bein the exercise of his profession, was intimidated, for a moment, by thecalm simplicity of the two men--these strictly conventional bankers, towhom he was about to say such strange things, and make a most unexpectedproposition!
First of all, he made excuse on excuse for having disturbed the bankersat their post time. Then anxiety overcame every consideration ofconventional propriety. Full of persuasive ardour, he went straight tothe point.
"Messieurs," declared he, "you are more deeply involved than you mightthink in the mysterious affairs occupying the attention of the police atthis moment. So far, they have not got to the bottom of them. I, myself,through the necessities of my profession, and owing to othercircumstances, have been drawn into an investigation, conjointly withthe detective department, an investigation which has had definiteresults: it has enabled me to discover clues of the highest importance.I learned, too late, alas, to prevent the tragedies, that certainpersons were the chosen victims of these mysterious criminals. Madame deVibray, the Princess Danidoff were condemned beforehand; the robbery ofyour gold was carefully arranged. Now to my point! Messieurs, youyourselves are sentenced: the execution of the sentence to be carriedout three days hence. Do you believe me?"
Fandor had drawn nearer the two bankers: only the immense mahoganywriting-table stood between them!
The partners had listened with cold attention: nevertheless, a slighttrembling of Monsieur Barbey's lips betrayed hidden feeling. Noticingthis, Fandor was emboldened to proceed.
Monsieur Nanteuil, in a slightly sneering tone, but with a perfectlycorrect manner, replied to the ardent young journalist:
"We are greatly obliged to you, monsieur, for the sympathy you haveshown us by coming to give us information regarding the mysteriousassassins, whom the police are so zealously trying to round up. Believeme, we are accustomed to take our precautions, seeing that we have thehandling of enormous sums of money. We are none the less grateful to youfor your interest in us, and for your warning."
"It is not a question of gratitude," interrupted Fandor sharply. "Wehave to deal with very strong opponents. I say 'we' because I havebecome more and more personally involved in all these crime-tragedies.Believe me, I speak from five years' experience as a reporter, who hashad to report, on an average, one crime a day!... Up to now, nothing,absolutely nothing has hindered the criminals from executing theirplans; but, warned in time, we may be able to thwart them."
"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 thetable, his face almost touching the faces of the two men, he said slowlyand distinctly:
"Messieurs, I have asked _La Capitale_ to grant me three days' leave. Ihave brought a little travelling bag with me: here it is! Leaving homeas I did about half an hour ago, I consider I have arrived at the end ofmy journey!... Will you offer me hospitality for the next forty-eighthours?... I know that you, Monsieur Nanteuil, live above your offices,whilst Monsieur Barbey goes home every evening to his place at SaintGermain. I ask you to give up your room to me, for I am determined notto leave here for an instant!"
Fandor, in his eagerness, had spoken faster and faster, and his heartwas beating violently. He stared fixedly at the two men; he quiteexpected that his demand would excite astonishment; that objectionswould be raised; and he was ready with a crowd of arguments by which toconvince them and carry his point.... But, the surprise was his, for thebankers did not seem particularly astonished.
They consulted each other with a look. Then, as Barbey opened his mouthto reply, Nanteuil began to speak, rising politely at the same time.
"Monsieur Fandor, your last statements and remarks are too serious to bepassed over lightly. Your offer is too generous to be rejected withoutconsideration. Will you allow us to retire for a minute or two: mypartner 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 moresolemn than ever: Nanteuil was smiling.
"Monsieur," said Barbey, in weighty tones, "my partner and I, in view ofthe exceptional seriousness of the situation, for your words carryconviction--have come to a decision: we beg of you to consider yourselfour 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 ofthe party, and will pass the night in our company ... and you can counton it, that we shall drink a good bottle of Burgundy to enable us toawait with patience and serenity the audacious individuals you say weare to expect.... Dear Monsieur Fandor, here are some illustrated paperswith some gay sketches of dear little women to exercise your patienceover, whilst we sign our outgoing letters as fast as possible...."