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Updated: May 21, 2025
Vantine passed on through the ante-room in which we had found the body of the unfortunate Frenchman, and into the room beyond. Five or six pieces of furniture, evidently just unpacked, stood there, but, ignorant as I am of such things, he did not have to point out to me the Boule cabinet. It dominated the room, much as Madame de Montespan, no doubt, dominated the court at Versailles.
The Frenchman's business, then, had something to do with this cabinet, and with this secret drawer. Left to himself, he discovered the cabinet in the room adjoining the ante-room, attempted to open the drawer, and was killed." "Yes," I agreed; "and now how about Vantine?" "Vantine's death isn't so simply explained. Presumably the unknown woman also called on business relating to the cabinet.
The case had been placed in Simmonds's hands, and it was he who testified on behalf of the police, admitting candidly that they were all at sea. He had made a careful examination of the Vantine house, he said, particularly of the room in which the bodies had been found, and had discovered absolutely nothing in the shape of a clue to the solution of the mystery.
"I had not put it so clearly, even to myself. Go ahead." "We come to the conclusion, then," continued Godfrey, "that the business of this unknown Frenchman with Vantine in some way concerned this cabinet." "Vantine himself thought so," I broke in. "He told me afterwards that it was because he thought so he consented to see him." "Good! That would seem to indicate that we are on the right track.
"You say you never saw the woman before?" "Never, sir." "Had she ever been here before?" "I don't think so, sir. The first thing she asked was if this was where Mr. Vantine lived." Grady nodded. "Very good, Rogers," he said. "I'll be offering you a place on the force next. Would you know this woman if you saw her again?" Rogers hesitated. "I wouldn't like to say sure, sir," he answered, at last.
"He knows that Drouet was killed while searching for a packet of letters, which would have compromised most seriously a great lady; he knows that M. Vantine was killed while endeavouring to open the drawer after its secret had been revealed to him by the maid of that same great lady, who was hoping to get a reward for them; Morel met death directly at the hands of Crochard because he was a traitor and deserved it."
But no doubt I should approve if all the circumstances were known to me. Especially if it was to assist a lady." "It was," I said, and I saw from his face that he understood. "Then you did well," he said. "Has no other explanation been found for the death of Mr. Vantine and of this stranger?" "I think not. The coroner will hold his inquest to-morrow.
"It is the original of one now in the Louvre which is known to have belonged to the Grand Louis." "That was Mr. Vantine's belief," I said. "Why he should have arrived at that conclusion, I don't know " "Mr. Vantine was a connoisseur," said M. Armand, quietly. "There are certain indications which no connoisseur could mistake."
He answered the door when the man rang." "Well, and then what happened?" "I took his card up to Mr. Vantine, sir." "Did Mr. Vantine know him?" "No, sir; he wanted to know what he wanted." "What did he want?" "I don't know, sir; he couldn't speak English hardly at all he was French, I think." Goldberger looked down at the body again and nodded. "Go ahead," he said.
"Yes," I said, "and the coroner. Suppose you leave it to me. We'll lock up this room, and nobody must leave the house until the police arrive." "Very well," assented Vantine, visibly relieved, "I'll see to that," and he hastened away, while I went to the 'phone, called up police headquarters, and told briefly what had happened.
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