them independent of the narrow passage between the Walls of the
gardens, which debouched into a side-street on the right.

The Duke turned from the window, glanced at the wall opposite, then,
as if something had caught his eye, went quickly to it.

"Look here," he said, and he pointed to the middle of one of the
empty spaces in which a picture had hung.

There, written neatly in blue chalk, were the words:

ARSENE LUPIN

"This is a job for Guerchard," said the inspector. "But I had better
get an examining magistrate to take the matter in hand first." And
he ran to the telephone.

The Duke opened the folding doors which led into the second drawing-
room. The shutters of the windows were open, and it was plain that
Arsene Lupin had plundered it also of everything that had struck his
fancy. In the gaps between the pictures on the walls was again the
signature "Arsene Lupin."

The inspector was shouting impatiently into the telephone, bidding a
servant wake her master instantly. He did not leave the telephone
till he was sure that she had done so, that her master was actually
awake, and had been informed of the crime. The Duke sat down in an
easy chair and waited for him.

When he had finished telephoning, the inspector began to search the