eleven o'clock in the morning
Monsieur Havard considers it certain that the deed is a premeditated one , carefully prepared , and that , consequently , the explosion which caused the catastrophe was a deliberate act of violence . On the other hand , Monsieur Nanteuil declares that outside the parties interested , that is to say , the Barbey-Nanteuil bank and the Comptoir d'Escomptes , who were to receive the bullion , not a soul could know of the transfer on that particular morning . But the staffs of the bank and of the Comptoir National d'Escomptes are absolutely trustworthy : their honour has never been questioned . `` It is evident that such a daring and desperate deed , carried through so successfully in the galleries of the Metropolitan , in the sight of all Paris , at eleven o'clock in the morning , could only be the work of a band of criminals , numerous and perfectly organised . '' ` Are we returning to the days of -- Fantômas ? ' `` Let us add , that owing to the number of individuals probably involved , and the daring nature of the crime , Monsieur Havard considers that it will be extremely difficult for the guilty persons to escape from the police . '' Jérôme Fandor had just finished correcting this sensational article , when slips from the Havas Agency arrived at _ La Capitale _ .