is a
German and who speaks with the strongest possible German accent--had
raised this bird, it would either have spoken German or with the same
accent as its mistress. Therefore it cannot have been in her possession
long, and who gave it to her?"

Father Absinthe began to grow impatient.

"In sober earnest, what are you talking about?" he asked, petulantly.

"I say that if there is someone at the Hotel de Sairmeuse named Camille,
I have the proof I desire. Come, Papa Absinthe, let us hurry on."

And without another word of explanation, he dragged his companion
rapidly along.

When they reached the Rue de Crenelle, Lecoq saw a messenger leaning
against the door of a wine-shop. Lecoq called him.

"Come, my boy," said he; "I wish you to go to the Hotel de Sairmeuse and
ask for Camille. Tell her that her uncle is waiting her here."

"But, sir----"

"What, you have not gone yet?"

The messenger departed; the two policemen entered the wine-shop, and
Father Absinthe had scarcely had time to swallow a glass of brandy when
the lad returned.

"Monsieur, I was unable to see Mademoiselle Camille. The house is closed
from top to bottom. The duchess died very suddenly this morning."

"Ah! the wretch!" exclaimed the young policeman.

Then, controlling himself, he mentally added:

"He must have killed his wife on returning home, but his fate is sealed.
Now, I shall be allowed to continue my investigations."

In less than twenty minutes they arrived at the Palais de Justice.

M. Segmuller did not seem to be immoderately surprised at Lecoq's
revelations. Still he listened with evident doubt to the young
policeman's ingenious deductions; it was the circumstance of the
starling that seemed to decide him.

"Perhaps you are right, my dear Lecoq," he said, at last; "and to tell
the truth, I quite agree with you. But I can take no further action in
the matter until you can furnish proof so convincing in its nature that
the Duc de Sairmeuse will be unable to think of denying it."

"Ah! sir, my superior officers will not allow me----"

"On the contrary," interrupted the judge, "they will allow you the
fullest liberty after I have spoken to them."

Such action on the part of M. Segmuller required not a little courage.
There had been so much laughter about M. Segmuller's _grand seigneur_,
disguised as a clown, that many men would have sacrificed their
convictions to the fear of ridicule.

"And when will you speak to them?"