"I really don't know, Monsieur Rouletabille," replied Fred, shaking
hands with my friend, whom he had several times met in the course
of his difficult investigations. "I have not seen him."

"The concierges will be able to inform us no doubt?" said
Rouletabille, pointing to the lodge the door and windows of which
were close shut.

"The concierges will not be able to give you any information,
Monsieur Rouletabille."

"Why not?"

"Because they were arrested half an hour ago."

"Arrested!" cried Rouletabille; "then they are the murderers!"

Frederic Larsan shrugged his shoulders.

"When you can't arrest the real murderer," he said with an air of
supreme irony, "you can always indulge in the luxury of discovering
accomplices."

"Did you have them arrested, Monsieur Fred?"

"Not I!--I haven't had them arrested. In the first place, I am
pretty sure that they have not had anything to do with the affair,
and then because--"