who
came in, accompanied by the Examining Magistrate, M. Ginory, whom
criminals called "the vise," because he pressed them so hard when he got
hold of them. M. Ginory was in the Attorney's office when the officer
had telephoned to M. Jacquelin des Audrays, and the latter had asked
him to accompany him to the scene of the murder. Bernardet knew them
both well. He had more than once been associated with M. Audrays. He
also knew M. Ginory as a very just, a very good man, although he was
much feared, for, while searching for the truth of a matter he reserved
judgment of those whom he had fastened in his vise. M. Audrays was still
a young man, slender and correct, tightly buttoned up in his redingote,
smooth-shaven, wearing eyeglasses.

The red ribbon in his buttonhole seemed a little too large, like a
rosette worn there through coquetry. M. Ginory, on the contrary, wore
clothes too large for him; his necktie was tied as if it was a black
cord; his hat was half brushed; he was short, stout and sanguine, with
his little snub nose and his mouth, with its heavy jaws. He seemed,
beside the worldly magistrate, like a sort of professor, or savant, or
collector, who, with a leather bag stuffed with books, seemed more
fitted to pore over some brochures or precious old volumes than to spend
his time over musty law documents. Robust and active, with his
fifty-five years, he entered that house of crime as an expert
topographist makes a map, and who scarcely needs a guide, even in an
unknown country. He went straight to the body, which, as we have said,
lay between the two front windows, and both he and M. Audrays stood a
moment looking at it, taking in, as had the others, all the details
which might serve to guide them in their researches. The Attorney for
the Republic asked the Commissary if he had made his report, and the
latter handed it to him. He read it with satisfied nods of his head;
during this time Bernardet had approached M. Ginory, saluted him and
asked for a private interview with a glance of his eye; the Examining
Magistrate understood what he meant.

"Ah! Is it you, Bernardet? You wish to speak to me?"

"Yes, Monsieur Ginory. I beg of you to get the body to the dissecting
room for the autopsy as soon as possible." He had quietly and almost
imperceptibly drawn the Magistrate away toward a window, away from the
reporters, who wished to hear every word that was uttered, where he had
him quite by himself, in a corner of t