"Good news!" said he in a big voice: "I didn't make the journey to
Paris for the King of Prussia; we are right on the track of this
rogue of a Guespin."
M. Domini encouraged him with an approving gesture.
"See here, Goulard," said he, "let us go on in order if we can. You
went then, according to my instructions, to the Vulcan's Forges?"
"At once, Monsieur."
"Precisely. Had they seen the prisoner there?"
"Yes; on the evening of Wednesday, July 8th."
"At what hour?"
"About ten o'clock, a few minutes before they shut up; so that he
was remarked, and the more distinctly observed."
The judge moved his lips as if to make an objection, but was stopped
by a gesture from M. Lecoq.
"And who recognized the photograph?"
"Three of the clerks. Guespin's manner first attracted their
attention. It was strange, so they said, and they thought he was
drunk, or at least tipsy. Then their recollection was fixed by his
talking very fast, saying that he was going to patronize them a
great deal, and that if they would make a reduction in their prices
he would procure for them the custom of an establishment whose
confidence he possessed, the Gentil Jardinier, which bought a great
many gardening tools.
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