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Updated: June 20, 2025
"And that Jacques Aubrieux was not feeling very well and was proposing not to take his usual cycle-ride but to stay at home and sleep?" "Yes." "You are sure?" "Absolutely certain." "And you all three went to the cinema together?" "Yes." "And you were all sitting together?" "Oh, no! There was no room. He took a seat farther away." "A seat where you could see him?" "No."
Renine beckoned to his chauffeur, who was waiting at some little distance, and pushed Gaston Dutreuil into the car, asking: "What address? Where does Madame Aubrieux live?" "23 bis, Avenue du Roule." After helping Hortense in, Renine repeated the address to the chauffeur and, as soon as they drove off, tried to question Gaston Dutreuil: "I know very little of the case," he said.
"Tell it to me as briefly as you can. Jacques Aubrieux killed one of his near relations, didn't he?" "He is innocent, sir," replied the young man, who seemed incapable of giving the least explanation. "Innocent, I swear it. I've been Jacques' friend for twenty years ... He is innocent ... and it would be monstrous...." There was nothing to be got out of him. Besides, it was only a short drive.
But he's kept his feet, the rascal!" "Still, you're certain it's he?" "It can't be any one else. I had an intuition at the very outset; and I've not taken my eyes off him since. I have seen his anxiety increasing as my investigations seemed to centre on him and concern him more closely. Now I know." "And he's in love with Madame Aubrieux?" "In logic, he's bound to be.
Lastly, one of our neighbours maintains that he saw my husband go out on his bicycle at three o'clock and another that he saw him come in at half-past four. The murder was committed at four o'clock." "And what does Jacques Aubrieux say in his defence?" "He declares that he slept all the afternoon.
"The bottle had been opened by Jacques Aubrieux at lunch, in his own house, and it was you who took it with you to serve as evidence." "Funnier and funnier!" cried Dutreuil, who had the air of being frankly amused. "Then I contrived the whole affair so that Jacques Aubrieux might be accused of the crime?" "It was the safest means of not being accused yourself."
He is sure to remember Prince Renine. I may be able to-day to show him where the sixty thousand-franc notes are hidden which Aubrieux the murderer stole from his cousin. If he's interested in the proposal, beg him to send an inspector to the Brasserie Lutetia, Place des Ternes. I shall be there with a lady and M. Dutreuil, Aubrieux's friend. Good day, Mr. Secretary."
But I give you my word of honour that, if any one in this world can be of use to you, it is myself. I therefore implore you to answer my questions as though the clear and definite wording of your replies were able to alter the aspect of things and as though you wished to make me share your opinion of Jacques Aubrieux. For he is innocent, is he not?"
Renine asked Gaston Dutreuil for the Aubrieuxs' number, took down the instrument and was put through. The maid who came to the telephone answered that Madame Aubrieux had fainted, after giving way to an access of despair, and that she was now asleep. "Fetch her mother, please. Prince Renine speaking. It's urgent." He handed the second receiver to Morisseau.
From time to time he looked at his watch. Every minute was of such importance! At last he went back to Madeleine Aubrieux, took her hands and said, very gently: "You must not kill yourself. There is hope left until the last minute has come; and I promise you that, for my part, I will not be disheartened until that last minute. But I need your calmness and your confidence."
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