“How do they know?”

“Through the woman who manages for him.  She’s just come to the house and will let us in.”

“Does he live alone?”

“Yes, the woman cooks his meals and goes away in the evening.  No one ever calls except a veiled lady who has paid him three visits since he’s been here.  The housekeeper was not able to see what she was like.  As for him, she says he’s a scholar, who spends his time reading and working.”

“And have you a warrant?”

“Yes, we’re going to use it.”

“I’ll come at once.”

“You can’t!  We’ve got Weber at our head.  Oh, by the way, have you heard the news about Mme. Fauville?”

“About Mme. Fauville?”

“Yes, she tried to commit suicide last night.”

“What!  Tried to commit suicide!”

Perenna had uttered an exclamation of astonishment and was very much surprised to hear, almost at the same time, another cry, like an echo, at his elbow.  Without letting go the receiver, he turned round and saw that Mlle. Levasseur was in the study a few yards away from him, standing with a distorted and livid face.  Their eyes met.  He was on the point of speaking to her, but she moved away, without leaving the room, however.

“What the devil was she listening for?” Don Luis wondered.  “And why that look of dismay?”

Meanwhile, Mazeroux continued: 

“She said, you know, that she would try to kill herself.  But it must have taken a goodish amount of pluck.”

“But how did she do it?” Perenna asked.

“I’ll tell you another time.  They’re calling me.  Whatever you do, Chief, don’t come.”

“Yes,” he replied, firmly, “I’m coming.  After all, the least I can do is to be in at the death, seeing that it was I who found the scent.  But don’t be afraid.  I shall keep in the background.”

“Then hurry, Chief.  We’re delivering the attack in ten minutes.”

“I’ll be with you before that.”

He quickly hung up the receiver and turned on his heel to leave the telephone box.  The next moment he had flung himself against the farther wall.  Just as he was about to pass out he had heard something click above his head and he but barely had the time to leap back and escape being struck by an iron curtain which fell in front of him with a terrible thud.

Another second and the huge mass would have crushed him.  He could feel it whizzing by his head.  And he had never before experienced the anguish of danger so intensely.

After a moment of genuine fright, in which he stood as though petrified, with his brain in a whirl, he recovered his coolness and threw himself upon the obstacle.  But it at once appeared to him that the obstacle was unsurmountable.

It was a heavy metal panel, not made of plates or lathes fastened one to the other, but formed of a solid slab, massive, firm, and strong, and covered with the sheen of time darkened here and there with patches of rust.  On either side and at the top and bottom the edges of the panel fitted in a narrow groove which covered them hermetically.