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After a silence, Grimaudan continued: "You killed the countess with a knife purchased by you at the Bazar de la Republique on the same day as you ordered the duplicate key. It has a triangular blade with a groove running from end to end." "That is all nonsense. You are simply guessing at something you don't know. No one ever saw the knife." "Here it is." Victor Danegre recoiled.
"And a hundred francs to keep me until I get work there." "You shall have two hundred. Now, speak." "Count the paving-stones to the right from the sewer-hole. The pearl is between the twelfth and thirteenth." "In the gutter?" "Yes, close to the sidewalk." Grimaudan glanced around to see if anyone were looking. Some tram- cars and pedestrians were passing. But, bah, they will not suspect anything.
"Between two paving-stones." "Which?" "Look for it." "Which stones?" Victor made no reply. "Ah; I see!" exclaimed Grimaudan, "you want me to pay for the information." "No....but....I am afraid I will starve to death." "So! that is why you hesitate. Well, I'll not be hard on you. How much do you want?" "Enough to buy a steerage pass to America." "All right."
So he said: "How much will you give me, if I give you the pearl?" "Nothing." "Oh! you are joking! Or do you mean that I should give you an article worth thousands and hundreds of thousands and get nothing in return?" "You will get your life. Is that nothing?" The unfortunate man shuddered. Then Grimaudan added, in a milder tone: "Come, Danegre, that pearl has no value in your hands.
"And that is how you, under the assumed name of Grimaudan, ex-inspector of detectives, were chosen by fate to deprive the criminal of the benefit of his crime." "Exactly. And I confess that the affair gives me infinite satisfaction and pride.
"That's not true! Some one has lied to you." The new-comer took a card from his pocket and handed it to Victor, who read on it: "Grimaudan, ex-inspector of the detective force. Private business transacted." Victor shuddered as he said: "You are connected with the police?" "No, not now, but I have a liking for the business and I continue to work at it in a manner more profitable.
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