while M. de Trebons showed the
Morestal family in.

The tent, which was a fairly large one, was furnished with a few chairs
and a table, on which lay the papers dealing with the case. A page lay
open bearing Saboureux's clumsy signature and the mark made by Old
Poussiere.

The Morestals were sitting down, when a sound of voices struck their
ears and, through the opening in the fly of the tent, they caught sight
of a person in a general's uniform, very tall, very thin, looking like a
bird of prey, but presenting a fine appearance in a long black tunic.
With his hand on the hilt of his sword, he was striding along the road
in the company of the under-secretary.

Morestal whispered:

"The Statthalter.... They have already had one meeting, an hour ago."

The two men disappeared at the end of the Butte, then returned and, this
time, doubtless embarrassed by the propinquity of the German officers,
penetrated a few paces into French territory.

A word, here and there, of the conversation reached the tent. Then the
two speakers stood still and the Morestals distinctly heard the
Statthalter's voice:

"Monsieur le ministre, my conclusion is necessarily different from
yours, because all the police-officers who took part in the arrest are
unanimous in declaring that it was effected on German soil."

"Commissary Jorance and M. Morestal," objected M. Le Corbier, "state the
contrary."

"They are alone in saying so."

"M. Philippe Morestal took the evidence of Private Baufeld."

"Private Baufeld was a deserter," retorted the Statthalter. "His
evidence does not count."

There was a pause. Then the German resumed, in terms which he picked
slowly and carefully:

"Therefore, monsieur le ministre, as there is no outside evidence in
support of either of the two contradictory versions, I can find no
argument that would tend to destroy the conclusions to which all the
German enquiries have led. That is what I shall tell the emperor this
evening."

He bowed. M. Le Corbier took off his hat, hesitated a second and then,
making up his mind:

"One word more, your excellency. Before finally going back to Paris, I
determined to call the Morestal family for the last time. I will ask
your excellency if it would be possible for Commissary Jorance to be
present at the interview. I will answer for him on my honour."

The Statthalter appeared embarrassed. The proposal evidently went beyond
his powers. Nevertheless, he said, decisively