a magistrate."

"You are not a magistrate, then?"

"I am simply a police spy."

Then he crossed the street.

The neighbors had gathered about the door like a swarm of flies around a
honey-comb. A rumor had spread about which brought together a crowd
animated by the morbid curiosity which is aroused in some minds of the
hint of a mystery, and attracted by that strange magnetism which that
sinister thing, "a crime," arouses. The women talked in shrill tones,
inventing strange stories and incredible theories. Some of the common
people hurried up to learn the news.

At the moment Bernardet came up, followed by the concierge, a coupe
stopped at the door and a tall man got out, asking:

"Where is M. Morel? I wish to see M. Morel."

The Chief had not yet been advised, and he was not there. But the tall
young man suddenly recognized Bernardet, and laid hold of him, pulling
him after him through the half-open door, which Moniche hastened to shut
against the crowd.

"We must call some officers," Bernardet said to the concierge, "or the
crowd will push in."

Mme. Moniche was standing at the foot of the staircase, surrounded by
the lodgers, men and women, to whom she was recounting, for the
twentieth time, the story of how she had found M. Rovere with his throat
cut.

"I was going in to read the paper--the story--it is very interesting,
that story. The moment had come when the Baron had insulted the
American colonel. M. Rovere said to me only yesterday, poor man: 'I am
anxious to find out which one will be killed--the colonel or the baron.'
He will never know! And it is he"----

"Mme. Moniche," interrupted Bernardet, "have you any one whom you can
send for a Commissary?"

"Any one?"

"Yes," added Moniche. "M. Bernardet needs a magistrate. It is not
difficult to understand."

"A Commissary?" repeated Mme. Moniche. "That is so. A Commissary; and
what if I go for the Commissary myself, M. Bernardet?"

"All right, provided you do not let the crowd take the house by assault
when you open the door."

"Fear nothing," the woman said, happy in having something important to
do, in relating the horrible news to the Commissary how, when she was
about to enter the room for the purpose of reading, the----

While she was going toward the door Bernardet slowly mounted the two
flights of stairs, followed by Moniche and the tall young man who had
arrived in his coupe at a gallop, in order to get the first news of the
murder