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The sister rushed into one of the rooms and threw herself on her knees beside the bed on which the corpse lay stretched. Therese d'Ormeval was in the sitting-room and was sobbing in the midst of a small company of silent persons. The brother sat down beside her, eagerly seized her hands and said, in a trembling voice: "My poor friend!... My poor friend!..."
If ever you are called upon for your evidence, say that you know nothing." She walked away. At the door, she hesitated and then, between her teeth, said: "The cheque." Renine looked at Madame d'Ormeval, who declared: "Let her keep it. I would not touch that money."
Madame Astaing was choking with fury: "But you have no right to talk like this, monsieur! Who are you, after all? A friend of that woman's?" "Since you have been attacking her, yes." "But I'm only attacking her because she's guilty. For you can't deny it: she has killed her husband." "I don't deny it," said Renine, calmly. "We are all agreed on that point. Jacques d'Ormeval was killed by his wife.
After the usual enquiries, they carried away the body. A few persons went on ahead to break the news to Therese d'Ormeval, who was once more to be seen on her balcony.
There is every reason to believe that M. d'Ormeval is wounded ... or dead." "Dead!" they cried. "What do you mean? He has only just left us." Renine took out his knife, prized open the lock and pulled back the two doors. There were shouts of dismay. M. d'Ormeval was lying flat on his face, clutching his jacket and his newspaper in his hands. Blood was flowing from his back and staining his shirt.
Frederic Astaing.... My sister, Germaine Astaing, knows Madame d'Ormeval intimately!... They were expecting us.... We had an appointment!..." They were allowed to pass. Renine, who had slipped behind them, followed them in without a word, accompanied by Hortense. The d'Ormevals had four bedrooms and a sitting-room on the second floor.
"I suppose," said Renine, "that, when the pocket-book fell on the shingle, that sixth letter slipped out at the same time as the photograph and that M. d'Ormeval must have picked it up, for I found it in the pocket of his blazer, which had been hung up near the bed. Here it is.
She compelled Madame d'Ormeval to resume her seat, while Renine took up his position in the middle of the room and spoke in resolute tones: "Chance, which has placed me in possession of part of the truth, will enable me to save you both, if you are willing to assist me with a frank explanation that will give me the particulars which I still need.
He was rising to his feet, when a fresh discussion broke out among the bridge-players and one of them exclaimed: "Let's put it to d'Ormeval." "Very well," said his adversary. "I'll accept his decision ... if he consents to act as umpire. He was rather huffy just now." They called out: "D'Ormeval! D'Ormeval!"
As he passed the bridge-players, they asked him for a decision, pointing to their cards spread out upon the table. But, with a wave of the hand, he refused to give an opinion and walked on, covered the thirty yards which divided them from the cabin, opened the door and went in. Therese d'Ormeval came back to the terrace and remained for ten minutes sitting on a bench.
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