VII: The Theft of the Motor-carsThe night was very black; the rain pattered in their faces.
Again the millionaire bellowed: "Jean! Firmin! Firmin! Jean!"
No answer came out of the darkness, though his bellow echoed and re–echoed among the out–buildings and stables away on the left.
He turned and looked at the Duke and said uneasily, "What on earth can they be doing?"
"I can't conceive," said the Duke. "I suppose we must go and hunt 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
