to be listening, and
appeared to be plunged in the deepest meditation. Night was falling;
a light fog hung like smoke over the Seine.

"We must go in," said M. Plantat, abruptly, "and see how the doctor
has got on with his autopsy."

They slowly approached the house. The judge of instruction awaited
them on the steps. He appeared to have a satisfied air.

"I am going to leave you in charge," said he to M. Plantat, "for if
I am to see the procureur, I must go at once. When you sent for
him this morning, he was absent."

M. Plantat bowed.

"I shall be much obliged if you will watch this affair to the end.
The doctor will have finished in a few minutes, he says, and will
report to-morrow morning. I count on your co-operation to put
seals wherever they are necessary, and to select the guard over the
chateau. I shall send an architect to draw up an exact plan of the
house and garden. Well, sir," asked M. Domini, turning to the
detective, "have you made any fresh discoveries?"

"I have found some important facts; but I cannot speak decisively
till I have seen everything by daylight. If you will permit me, I
will postpone making my report till to-morrow afternoon. I think
I may say, however, that complicated as this affair is--"

M. Domini did not let him finish.

"I see nothing complicated in the affair at all; everything strikes
me as very simple."

"But," objected M. Lecoq, "I thought--"

"I sincerely regret," continued the judge, "that you were so hastily
called, when there was really no serious reason for it. The
evidences against the arrested men are very conclusive."

Plantat and Lecoq exchanged a long look, betraying their great
surprise.

"What!" exclaimed the former, "have, you discovered any new
indications?"

"More than indications, I believe," responded M. Domini. "Old
Bertaud, whom I have again questioned, begins to be uneasy. He has
quite lost his arrogant manner. I succeeded in making him
contradict himself several times, and he finished by confessing
that he saw the assassins."

"The assassins!" exclaimed M. Plantat. "Did he say assassins?"

"He saw at least one of them. He persists in declaring that he did
not recognize him. That's where we are. But prison walls have
salutary terrors. To-morrow after a sleepless night, the fellow
will be more explicit, if I mistake not."

"But Guespin," anxiously asked the old man, "have you questioned
him?"

"Oh, as for him, everything is clear."