"
"Regarding Guespin?"
"Yes. Very early this morning a young working-woman of the town,
whom Guespin has been courting, brought me an excellent photograph
of him. I gave this portrait to the agent with instructions to go
to the Vulcan's Forges and ascertain if Guespin had been seen there,
and whether he bought anything there night before last."
M. Lecoq was inclined to be jealous; the judge's proceeding
ruffled him, and he could not conceal an expressive grimace.
"I am truly grieved," said he, dryly, "that Monsieur the Judge
has so little confidence in me that he thinks it necessary to give
me assistance."
This sensitiveness aroused M. Domini, who replied:
"Eh! my dear man, you can't be everywhere at once. I think you
very shrewd, but you were not here, and I was in a hurry."
"A false step is often irreparable."
"Make yourself easy; I've sent an intelligent man." At this moment
the door opened, and the policeman referred to by the judge
appeared on the threshold. He was a muscular man about forty years
old, with a military pose, a heavy mustache, and thick brows,
meeting over the nose. He had a sly rather than a shrewd expression,
so that his appearance alone seemed to awake all sorts of suspicions
and put one instinctively on his guard.
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