United States or Marshall Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
I understand the business pretty well, for, as I told you, I know Mlle. Ermelin, who is a friend of Jerome Vignal's and also knows Madame de Gorne. Do you suppose ...?" "I don't want to suppose anything. I simply declare that some one came there last night...." "By which way? The only tracks of a person coming towards the manor are those of M. de Gorne."
She and I set out at five o'clock this morning ... not foreseeing for an instant that we were amenable to the law." Jerome Vignal's story was finished. He had told it straight off the reel, like a story learnt by heart and incapable of revision in any detail. There was a brief pause, during which Hortense whispered: "It all sounds quite possible and, in any case, very logical."
They were the procurator's deputy, his clerk, a commissary of police and two detectives. Madame de Gorne was shown in and the deputy asked Jerome Vignal to step forward. Jerome Vignal's face was certainly that of the strong man whom Hortense had depicted in her letter. He displayed no uneasiness, but rather decision and a resolute will.
He exchanged a few words with the commissary of police and then, beckoning to a detective, ordered him to bring up one of the two motor-cars. Then he turned to Natalie: "Madame, you have heard M. Vignal's evidence. It agrees word for word with your own. M. Vignal declares in particular that you had fainted when he carried you away. But did you remain unconscious all the way?"
I presume that this is not M. Vignal's intention and that he does not mean to bring a charge against him?" "Certainly not," said Jerome. "Well, what then? The insurance-policy in favour of the survivor? But there would be no misdemeanour unless the father claimed payment. And I should be greatly surprised if he did.... Hullo, here the old chap is! You'll soon know all about it."
"Yes, a little door of which Mathias de Gorne always had the key on him. The man must have taken it from him." "A way out into the open fields?" "Yes, a road which joins the departmental highway three quarters of a mile from here.... And do you know where?" "Where?" "At the corner of the chateau." "Jerome Vignal's chateau?" "By Jove, this is beginning to look serious!
Word Of The Day