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"I must speak with him, though," said he, "it's absolutely necessary and the sooner the better; for perhaps I am wrong I may be mistaken " M. Lecoq and M. Plantat approached him, having carefully closed the door. The doctor was paler than the corpse which lay under the sheet. His usually calm features betrayed great distress.
I was beside myself with rage, and swore that I would wait and murder him. I did wait, but he did not come out that night." M. Plantat hid his face in his hands; his heart bled at the recollection of that night of anguish, the whole of which he had passed in waiting for a man in order to kill him. M. Lecoq trembled with indignation.
I suspected this crime the first thing this morning, and have seen it all the way through; and the man that we have just shut up in there Robelot who wanted to murder Monsieur Plantat, was either the agent or the accomplice of this crime."
"There are thick walls on three sides of it, and the fourth is closed with a double door; no openings, no windows, nothing." "Just the place." M. Plantat opened the closet, a black-looking hole, damp, narrow, and full of old books and papers. "There," said M. Lecoq to his prisoner, "in here you'll be like a little king," and he pushed him into the closet.
He hired some apartments under a false name, paid in advance, and to-day he is comfortably ensconced in his new residence." M. Plantat seemed to feel extremely distressed at this. "I know it only too well, Monsieur Lecoq," said he, sadly. "You must be right. But is not the wretch thus securely hidden from us? Must we wait till some accident reveals him to us?
Again, the blue cravat with white stripes which the count wore on the 8th, had also disappeared." "There," cried M. Plantat, "that is indisputable proof that your supposition about the slippers and handkerchief was right." "I think that the facts are sufficiently established to enable us to go forward. Let's now consider the events which must have decided "
M. Plantat and the detective, left alone, began to walk up and down the gallery; both were grave and silent, as men are at a decisive moment; there is no chatting about a gaming-table. M. Lecoq suddenly started; he had just seen his agent at the end of the gallery. His impatience was so great that he ran toward him, saying: "Well?" "Monsieur, the game has flown, and Palot after him!"
"And Guespin is in prison," remarked the doctor. "We will have him out," answered the detective, "if, indeed, he is innocent; for this time I have mastered the mystery, my romance, if you wish, and without any gap. There is, however, one fact of the utmost importance, that I by myself cannot explain." "What?" asked M. Plantat.
Gendron and M. Plantat, who were watching him with the deepest attention, saw a triumphant light in his eyes. Doubtless he had just found a solution of the problem which had been put to him. "I understand," replied he, "and can explain Guespin's obstinate silence. I should be perfectly amazed if he decided to speak just now."
"Yes," resumed M. Plantat, "Laurence is innocent; she is only the victim of an odious villain. It is none the less true, though, that she would be more cruelly punished than he. If Tremorel is brought before the court, she will have to appear too, as a witness if not as a prisoner. And who knows that her truth will not be suspected?
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