Part 58 (1/2)
Vinson told him many things about the old accordion player with the patriarchal white beard which he already knew; but one remark particularly impressed him.
”If only the police knew all that goes on in the house in the rue Monge!”... Vinson stopped short.
This remark opened new horizons to Juve. When they arrived at the North station, some hours later, and Juve had transferred his prisoner to a cab, giving the driver the address of the Cherche-Midi prison, our detective had learned that Vagualame-Fantomas was in the habit of visiting a mysterious house in rue Monge. Here he met many of his accomplices. It was here the band of spies and traitors, of which he seemed chief, disguised themselves, issuing forth to ply their nefarious trade and mock the police.
Juve made a compact with himself.
”As soon as I have handed my corporal over to the military jailors, I know where I shall go to smoke a cigarette!”
XXVI
WILHELMINE'S SECRET
”You are alone, Wilhelmine?”
Mademoiselle de Naarboveck had just left the house in the rue Fabert.
It was three in the afternoon, and she was going shopping. At the corner of the rue de l'Universite she came on Henri de Loubersac.
It was a delightful surprise. She had not seen him for several days.
She was aware of the difficult and dangerous nature of her future fiance's duties; that they frequently took him from Paris for days at a time; that they forbade him writing even a post card to let her know where he was!... Now she felt delightedly sure that he had taken advantage of his first free moment to pay her a visit. How charming of him!
The truth was that de Loubersac, whose anxieties and suspicions had increased hour by hour, till he was suffering the tortures of the d.a.m.ned, had made up his mind to have a decisive talk with Wilhelmine.
A clear and final explanation he would have, cost what it might!
Full of joy at the meeting, Wilhelmine did not seem to notice his anxious looks, his strained expression. She answered his question with a welcoming smile.
”I am alone.”
”Your father?”
”Went away this morning: the calls of diplomacy are numerous, and frequently sudden, you know!”
”And Mademoiselle Berthe?”
Wilhelmine raised her beautiful bright eyes and met her fiance's questioning glance.
”No news of her for several days. Berthe seems to have disappeared.”
Her tone was grave.
De Loubersac did not speak: mechanically he fitted his step to Wilhelmine's. Presently he asked:
”Where do you think of going?”
”I was going to do a little shopping ... nothing much ... there is no sort of hurry!”
She felt that Henri wished to discuss something important with her: hers was too direct a nature to put him off with flimsy excuses when he desired a serious talk.