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Updated: June 24, 2025
Perrichet twirled his cap awkwardly and blushed. "Monsieur is pleased to laugh at me," he said. "But it was not I who called myself intelligent. Though indeed I would like to be so, for the good God knows I do not look it." Hanaud clapped him on the shoulder. "Then congratulate yourself! It is a great advantage to be intelligent and not to look it. We shall get on famously. Come!"
There must be no whisper that these jewels have been discovered; no newspaper must publish a hint of it; no one must suspect that here in this room we have found them. Is that understood?" "Certainly," said the Commissaire. "Yes," said Mr. Ricardo. "To be sure, monsieur," said Perrichet. As for Harry Wethermill, he made no reply. His burning eyes were fixed upon Hanaud's face, and that was all.
Then we will seal up in the bag the jewels, and we will hand it over to M. le Commissaire, who will convey it with the greatest secrecy out of this villa. For the list I will keep it," and he placed it carefully in his pocket-book. He unlocked the door and went out himself on to the landing. He looked down the stairs and up the stairs; then he beckoned Perrichet to him. "Go!" he whispered.
"My friend Perrichet," he said ironically, "I will tell you the newspaper did not do you justice. You are more intelligent. The truth, my excellent friend, lies at the bottom of a well; but you would find it at the bottom of a pot of cold cream. Now let us go. For in this house, gentlemen, we have nothing more to do." He passed out of the room.
Hanaud called for the bill and paid it. The three men left the Villa des Fleurs together. They got into a cab outside the door. Perrichet mounted the box, and the cab was driven along the upward-winding road past the Hotel Bernascon. A hundred yards beyond the hotel the cab stopped opposite to a villa.
Hanaud looked round the room and shook his head. "No," he said. "But yes, monsieur," Perrichet insisted. "Oh, but yes. See! Upon this dressing-table there was a small pot of cold cream. It stood here, where my finger is, when we were in this room an hour ago. Now it is gone." Hanaud burst into a laugh.
But a few minutes later, in the Rue du Casino, she and Mme. Dauvray were seen together, walking slowly in the direction of the villa. No other woman was with them." "That is a pity," said Hanaud quietly, and with a gesture he dismissed Perrichet. "You see, we shall find out nothing nothing," said Wethermill, with a groan.
Hanaud beckoned towards the sergent-de-ville. "Perrichet will make an excellent detective," he said; "for he looks more bovine and foolish in plain clothes than he does in uniform." Perrichet advanced in his mufti to the table. "Speak, my friend," said Hanaud. "I went to the shop of M. Corval. Mlle. Celie was quite alone when she bought the cord.
"Yes, but we are not sitting still," said Hanaud; and Wethermill looked up with a sudden interest. "All the time that we have been lunching here the intelligent Perrichet has been making inquiries. Mme. Dauvray and Mlle. Celie left the Villa Rose at five, and returned on foot soon after nine with the strange woman. And there I see Perrichet himself waiting to be summoned."
Just for a moment Hanaud leaned from the window, as Besnard, the Commissaire, had done, and, like Besnard again, he waved his hand. Then he came back into the room and saw, standing in front of him, with his mouth open and his eyes starting out of his head, Perrichet the intelligent Perrichet. "Monsieur," cried Perrichet, "something has been taken from this room."
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