Lecoq. It was a useless
precaution; for the hours passed on and no one arrived.
To kill time, he sent for Guespin and Bertaud and questioned them
anew, but learned nothing more than he had extracted from them the
night before. One of the prisoners swore by all things sacred that
he knew nothing except what he had already told; the other preserved
an obstinate and ferocious silence, confining himself to the remark:
"I know that I am lost; do with me what you please."
M. Domini was just going to send a mounted gendarme to Orcival to
find out the cause of the delay, when those whom he awaited were
announced. He quickly gave the order to admit them, and so keen
was his curiosity, despite what he called his dignity, that he got
up and went forward to meet them.
"How late you are!" said he.
"And yet we haven't lost a minute," replied M. Plantat. "We haven't
even been in bed."
"There is news, then? Has the count's body been found?"
"There is much news, Monsieur," said M. Lecoq. "But the count's
body has not been found, and I dare even say that it will not be
found--for the very simple fact that he has not been killed.
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