them out."

"What! in this darkness, with these burglars about?" said the
millionaire, starting back.

"If we don't, nobody else will," said the Duke. "And all the time
that rascal Lupin is stealing nearer and nearer your pictures. So
buck up, and come along!"

He seized the reluctant millionaire by the arm and drew him down the
steps. They took their way to the stables. A dim light shone from
the open door of the motor-house. The Duke went into it first, and
stopped short.

"Well, I'll be hanged!" he cried,

Instead of three cars the motor-house held but one--the hundred
horse-power Mercrac. It was a racing car, with only two seats. On
them sat two figures, Jean and Firmin.

"What are you sitting there for? You idle dogs!" bellowed the
millionaire.

Neither of the men answered, nor did they stir. The light from the
lamp gleamed on their fixed eyes, which stared at their infuriated
master.

"What on earth is this?" said the Duke; and seizing the lamp which
stood beside the car, he raised it so that its light fell on the two
figures. Then it was clear what had happened: they were trussed like