He was not wearing a very cheerful air; and he told the Duke that he had found no clue to the perpetrators of the crime, though M.Dieusy and M.Bonavent, the detectives from the Prefecture of Police, had joined him in the search.
The Duke was condoling with him on this failure when they heard a knocking at the front door, and then voices on the stairs.
"Ah! Here is M.Formery!" said the inspector cheerfully.

"Now we can get on.".