For really no corner or
crevice where a letter might be hid has been neglected. The table
and bureau-drawers had been thrown here and there, but the narrow
spaces between the drawers had been examined--I saw proofs of it,
for I found the imprints of fingers on the dust which lay in these
spaces. The books had been thrown pell-mell upon the floor, but
every one of them had been handled, and some of them with such
violence that the bindings were torn off. We found the
mantel-shelves in their places, but every one had been lifted up.
The chairs were not hacked with a sword, for the mere purpose of
ripping the cloth--the seats were thus examined. My conviction
of the certainty that there had been a most desperate search, at
first roused my suspicions. I said to myself, 'The villains have
been looking for the money which was concealed; therefore they did
not belong to the household.'"
"But," observed the doctor, "they might belong to the house, and
yet not know the money was hidden; for Guespin--"
"Permit me," interrupted M. Lecoq, "I will explain myself. On the
other hand, I found indications that the assassin must have been
closely connected with Madame de Tremorel--her lover, or her
husband.
Pages:
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177