At seven o'clock Prasville's group of men moved away a few yards, in the
direction of the Avenue Henri-Martin. The door of a small garden on the
right of the house opened and Daubrecq appeared. The two detectives
followed close behind him and, when he took the Rue-Taitbout train,
jumped on after him.

Prasville at once walked across the square and rang the bell. The
garden-gate was between the house and the porter's lodge. The portress
came and opened it. There was a brief conversation, after which
Prasville and his companions were admitted.

"A domiciliary visit," said Lupin. "Secret and illegal. By the strict
rules of politeness, I ought to be invited. My presence is indispensable."

Without the least hesitation he went up to the house, the door of which
had not been closed, and, passing in front of the portress, who was
casting her eyes outside, he asked, in the hurried tones of a person who
is late for an appointment:

"Have the gentlemen come?"

"Yes, you will find them in the study."

His plan was quite simple: if any one met him, he would pretend to be a
tradesman. But there was no need for this subterfuge. He was able,
after crossing an empty hall, to enter a dining-room which also had no
one in it, but which, through the panes of a glass partition that
separated the dining-room from the study, afforded him a view of
Prasville and his five companions.