"No other designation?" asked Perenna. "No letterheading?"
"None. But there is no mistake. Inspector Vérot's declarations agree too evidently with this despairing appeal. It is clearly M. Fauville and his son who are to be murdered to-night. And the terrible thing is that, as this name of Fauville is a very common one, it is impossible for our inquiries to succeed in time."
"What, Monsieur le Préfet? Surely, by straining every nerve"
"Certainly, we will strain every nerve; and I shall set all my men to work. But observe that we have not the slightest clue."
"Oh, it would be awful!" cried Don Luis. "Those two creatures doomed to death; and we unable to save them! Monsieur le Préfet, I ask you to authorize me"
He had not finished speaking when the Prefect's private secretary entered with a visiting-card in his hand.
"Monsieur le Préfet, this caller was so persistent.… I hesitated"
M. Desmalions took the card and uttered an exclamation of mingled surprise and joy.
"Look, Monsieur," he said to Perenna.
And he handed him the card.
Hippolyte Fauville,
Civil Engineer.
14 bis Boulevard Suchet.
"Come," said M. Desmalions, "chance is favouring us. If this M. Fauville is one of the Roussel heirs, our task becomes very much easier."
