"Everything's all right," he said when he returned, "and you can be easy. Good–night."
"Good–night," said the engineer, seeing Perenna and Mazeroux out.
Between his study and the passage were two doors, one of which was padded and covered with oilcloth. On the other side, the passage was separated from the hall by a heavy curtain.
"You can go to sleep," said Perenna to his companion. "I'll sit up."
"But surely, Chief, you don't think that anything's going to happen!"
"I don't think so, seeing the precautions which we've taken. But, knowing Inspector Vérot as you did, do you think he was the man to imagine things?"
"No, Chief."
"Well, you know what he prophesied. That means that he had his reasons for doing so. And therefore I shall keep my eyes open."
"We'll take it in turns, Chief
