II + 

The Water-Bottle + 

Four days after she had settled down in Paris, Hortense Daniel agreed to meet Prince R├йnine in the Bois. It was a glorious morning and they sat down on the terrace of the Restaurant Imp├йrial, a little to one side. + 

Hortense, feeling glad to be alive, was in a playful mood, full of attractive grace. R├йnine, lest he should startle her, refrained from alluding to the compact into which they had entered at his suggestion. She told him how she had left La Mar├иze and said that she had not heard of Rossigny. + 

тАЬI have,тАЭ said R├йnine. тАЬIтАЩve heard of him.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, he sent me a challenge. We fought a duel this morning. Rossigny got a scratch in the shoulder. That finished the duel. LetтАЩs talk of something else.тАЭ + 

There was no further mention of Rossigny. R├йnine at once expounded to Hortense the plan of two enterprises which he had in view and in which he offered, with no great enthusiasm, to let her share: + 

тАЬThe finest adventure,тАЭ he declared, тАЬis that which we do not foresee. It comes unexpectedly, unannounced; and no one, save the initiated, realizes that an opportunity to act and to expend oneтАЩs energies is close at hand. It has to be seized at once. A momentтАЩs hesitation may mean that we are too late. We are warned by a special sense, like that of a sleuthhound which distinguishes the right scent from all the others that cross it.тАЭ + 

The terrace was beginning to fill up around them. At the next table sat a young man reading a newspaper. They were able to see his insignificant profile and his long, dark moustache. From behind them, through an open window of the restaurant, came the distant strains of a band; in one of the rooms a few couples were dancing. + 

As R├йnine was paying for the refreshments, the young man with the long moustache stifled a cry and, in a choking voice, called one of the waiters: + 

тАЬWhat do I owe you?тБатАКтБатАж No change? Oh, good Lord, hurry up!тАЭ + 

R├йnine, without a momentтАЩs hesitation, had picked up the paper. After casting a swift glance down the page, he read, under his breath: + 

тАЬMa├оtre Dourdens, the counsel for the defence in the trial of Jacques Aubrieux, has been received at the ├Йlys├йe. We are informed that the President of the Republic has refused to reprieve the condemned man and that the execution will take place tomorrow morning.тАЭ + 

After crossing the terrace, the young man found himself faced, at the entrance to the garden, by a lady and gentleman who blocked his way; and the latter said: + 

тАЬExcuse me, sir, but I noticed your agitation. ItтАЩs about Jacques Aubrieux, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, yes, Jacques Aubrieux,тАЭ the young man stammered. тАЬJacques, the friend of my childhood. IтАЩm hurrying to see his wife. She must be beside herself with grief.тАЭ + 

тАЬCan I offer you my assistance? I am Prince R├йnine. This lady and I would be happy to call on Madame Aubrieux and to place our services at her disposal.тАЭ + 

The young man, upset by the news which he had read, seemed not to understand. He introduced himself awkwardly: + 

тАЬMy name is Dutreuil, Gaston Dutreuil.тАЭ + 

R├йnine beckoned to his chauffeur, who was waiting at some little distance, and pushed Gaston Dutreuil into the car, asking: + 

тАЬWhat address? Where does Madame Aubrieux live?тАЭ + 

тАЬ23 bis, Avenue du Roule.тАЭ + 

After helping Hortense in, R├йnine repeated the address to the chauffeur and, as soon as they drove off, tried to question Gaston Dutreuil: + 

тАЬI know very little of the case,тАЭ he said. тАЬTell it to me as briefly as you can. Jacques Aubrieux killed one of his near relations, didnтАЩt he?тАЭ + 

тАЬHe is innocent, sir,тАЭ replied the young man, who seemed incapable of giving the least explanation. тАЬInnocent, I swear it. IтАЩve been JacquesтАЩ friend for twenty yearsтБатАКтБатАж He is innocentтБатАКтБатАж and it would be monstrous.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

There was nothing to be got out of him. Besides, it was only a short drive. They entered Neuilly through the Porte des Sablons and, two minutes later, stopped before a long, narrow passage between high walls which led them to a small, one-storeyed house. + 

Gaston Dutreuil rang. + 

тАЬMadame is in the drawing-room, with her mother,тАЭ said the maid who opened the door. + 

тАЬIтАЩll go in to the ladies,тАЭ he said, taking R├йnine and Hortense with him. + 

It was a fair-sized, prettily-furnished room, which, in ordinary times, must have been used also as a study. Two women sat weeping, one of whom, elderly and grey-haired, came up to Gaston Dutreuil. He explained the reason for R├йnineтАЩs presence and she at once cried, amid her sobs: + 

тАЬMy daughterтАЩs husband is innocent, sir. Jacques? A better man never lived. He was so good-hearted! Murder his cousin? But he worshipped his cousin! I swear that heтАЩs not guilty, sir! And they are going to commit the infamy of putting him to death? Oh, sir, it will kill my daughter!тАЭ + 

R├йnine realized that all these people had been living for months under the obsession of that innocence and in the certainty that an innocent man could never be executed. The news of the execution, which was now inevitable, was driving them mad. + 

He went up to a poor creature bent in two whose face, a quite young face, framed in pretty, flaxen hair, was convulsed with desperate grief. Hortense, who had already taken a seat beside her, gently drew her head against her shoulder. R├йnine said to her: + 

тАЬMadame, I do not know what I can do for you. But I give you my word of honour that, if anyone in this world can be of use to you, it is myself. I therefore implore you to answer my questions as though the clear and definite wording of your replies were able to alter the aspect of things and as though you wished to make me share your opinion of Jacques Aubrieux. For he is innocent, is he not?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, sir, indeed he is!тАЭ she exclaimed; and the womanтАЩs whole soul was in the words. + 

тАЬYou are certain of it. But you were unable to communicate your certainty to the court. Well, you must now compel me to share it. I am not asking you to go into details and to live again through the hideous torment which you have suffered, but merely to answer certain questions. Will you do this?тАЭ + 

тАЬI will.тАЭ + 

R├йnineтАЩs influence over her was complete. With a few sentences R├йnine had succeeded in subduing her and inspiring her with the will to obey. And once more Hortense realized all the manтАЩs power, authority and persuasion. + 

тАЬWhat was your husband?тАЭ he asked, after begging the mother and Gaston Dutreuil to preserve absolute silence. + 

тАЬAn insurance-broker.тАЭ + 

тАЬLucky in business?тАЭ + 

тАЬUntil last year, yes.тАЭ + 

тАЬSo there have been financial difficulties during the past few months?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd the murder was committed when?тАЭ + 

тАЬLast March, on a Sunday.тАЭ + 

тАЬWho was the victim?тАЭ + 

тАЬA distant cousin, M. Guillaume, who lived at Suresnes.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat was the sum stolen?тАЭ + 

тАЬSixty thousand-franc notes, which this cousin had received the day before, in payment of a long-outstanding debt.тАЭ + 

тАЬDid your husband know that?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. His cousin told him of it on the Sunday, in the course of a conversation on the telephone, and Jacques insisted that his cousin ought not to keep so large a sum in the house and that he ought to pay it into a bank next day.тАЭ + 

тАЬWas this in the morning?тАЭ + 

тАЬAt one oтАЩclock in the afternoon. Jacques was to have gone to M. Guillaume on his motorcycle. But he felt tired and told him that he would not go out. So he remained here all day.тАЭ + 

тАЬAlone?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. The two servants were out. I went to the Cin├йma des Ternes with my mother and our friend Dutreuil. In the evening, we learnt that M. Guillaume had been murdered. Next morning, Jacques was arrested.тАЭ + 

тАЬOn what evidence?тАЭ + 

The poor creature hesitated to reply: the evidence of guilt had evidently been overwhelming. Then, obeying a sign from R├йnine, she answered without a pause: + 

тАЬThe murderer went to Suresnes on a motorcycle and the tracks discovered were those of my husbandтАЩs machine. They found a handkerchief with my husbandтАЩs initials; and the revolver which was used belonged to him. Lastly, one of our neighbours maintains that he saw my husband go out on his bicycle at three oтАЩclock and another that he saw him come in at half-past four. The murder was committed at four oтАЩclock.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd what does Jacques Aubrieux say in his defence?тАЭ + 

тАЬHe declares that he slept all the afternoon. During that time, someone came who managed to unlock the cycle-shed and take the motorcycle to go to Suresnes. As for the handkerchief and the revolver, they were in the tool-bag. There would be nothing surprising in the murdererтАЩs using them.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt seems a plausible explanation.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, but the prosecution raised two objections. In the first place, nobody, absolutely nobody, knew that my husband was going to stay at home all day, because, on the contrary, it was his habit to go out on his motorcycle every Sunday afternoon.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd the second objection?тАЭ + 

She flushed and murmured: + 

тАЬThe murderer went to the pantry at M. GuillaumeтАЩs and drank half a bottle of wine straight out of the bottle, which shows my husbandтАЩs fingerprints.тАЭ + 

It seemed as though her strength was exhausted and as though, at the same time, the unconscious hope which R├йnineтАЩs intervention had awakened in her had suddenly vanished before the accumulation of adverse facts. Again she collapsed, withdrawn into a sort of silent meditation from which HortenseтАЩs affectionate attentions were unable to distract her. + 

The mother stammered: + 

тАЬHeтАЩs not guilty, is he, sir? And they canтАЩt punish an innocent man. They havenтАЩt the right to kill my daughter. Oh dear, oh dear, what have we done to be tortured like this? My poor little Madeleine!тАЭ + 

тАЬShe will kill herself,тАЭ said Dutreuil, in a scared voice. тАЬShe will never be able to endure the idea that they are guillotining Jacques. She will kill herself presentlyтБатАКтБатАж this very night.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

R├йnine was striding up and down the room. + 

тАЬYou can do nothing for her, can you?тАЭ asked Hortense. + 

тАЬItтАЩs half-past eleven now,тАЭ he replied, in an anxious tone, тАЬand itтАЩs to happen tomorrow morning.тАЭ + 

тАЬDo you think heтАЩs guilty?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know.тБатАКтБатАж I donтАЩt know.тБатАКтБатАж The poor womanтАЩs conviction is too impressive to be neglected. When two people have lived together for years, they can hardly be mistaken about each other to that degree. And yet.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

He stretched himself out on a sofa and lit a cigarette. He smoked three in succession, without a word from anyone to interrupt his train of thought. From time to time he looked at his watch. Every minute was of such importance! + 

At last he went back to Madeleine Aubrieux, took her hands and said, very gently: + 

тАЬYou must not kill yourself. There is hope left until the last minute has come; and I promise you that, for my part, I will not be disheartened until that last minute. But I need your calmness and your confidence.тАЭ + 

тАЬI will be calm,тАЭ she said, with a pitiable air. + 

тАЬAnd confident?тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd confident.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, wait for me. I shall be back in two hours from now. Will you come with us, M. Dutreuil?тАЭ + 

As they were stepping into his car, he asked the young man: + 

тАЬDo you know any small, unfrequented restaurant, not too far inside Paris?тАЭ + 

тАЬThereтАЩs the Brasserie Lutetia, on the ground-floor of the house in which I live, on the Place des Ternes.тАЭ + 

тАЬCapital. That will be very handy.тАЭ + 

They scarcely spoke on the way. R├йnine, however, said to Gaston Dutreuil: + 

тАЬSo far as I remember, the numbers of the notes are known, arenтАЩt they?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. M. Guillaume had entered the sixty numbers in his pocketbook.тАЭ + 

R├йnine muttered, a moment later: + 

тАЬThatтАЩs where the whole problem lies. Where are the notes? If we could lay our hands on them, we should know everything.тАЭ + 

At the Brasserie Lutetia there was a telephone in the private room where he asked to have lunch served. When the waiter had left him alone with Hortense and Dutreuil, he took down the receiver with a resolute air: + 

тАЬHullo!тБатАКтБатАж Prefecture of police, please.тБатАКтБатАж Hullo! Hullo!тБатАКтБатАж Is that the Prefecture of police? Please put me on to the criminal investigation department. I have a very important communication to make. You can say itтАЩs Prince R├йnine.тАЭ + 

Holding the receiver in his hand, he turned to Gaston Dutreuil: + 

тАЬI can ask someone to come here, I suppose? We shall be quite undisturbed?тАЭ + 

тАЬQuite.тАЭ + 

He listened again: + 

тАЬThe secretary to the head of the criminal investigation department? Oh, excellent! Mr.┬аSecretary, I have on several occasions been in communication with M. Dudouis and have given him information which has been of great use to him. He is sure to remember Prince R├йnine. I may be able today to show him where the sixty thousand-franc notes are hidden which Aubrieux the murderer stole from his cousin. If heтАЩs interested in the proposal, beg him to send an inspector to the Brasserie Lutetia, Place des Ternes. I shall be there with a lady and M. Dutreuil, AubrieuxтАЩs friend. Good day, Mr.┬аSecretary.тАЭ + 

When R├йnine hung up the instrument, he saw the amazed faces of Hortense and of Gaston Dutreuil confronting him. + 

Hortense whispered: + 

тАЬThen you know? YouтАЩve discoveredтБатАКтБатАжтАК?тАЭ + 

тАЬNothing,тАЭ he said, laughing. + 

тАЬWell?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, IтАЩm acting as though I knew. ItтАЩs not a bad method. LetтАЩs have some lunch, shall we?тАЭ + 

The clock marked a quarter to one. + 

тАЬThe man from the prefecture will be here,тАЭ he said, тАЬin twenty minutes at latest.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd if no one comes?тАЭ Hortense objected. + 

тАЬThat would surprise me. Of course, if I had sent a message to M. Dudouis saying, тАШAubrieux is innocent,тАЩ I should have failed to make any impression. ItтАЩs not the least use, on the eve of an execution, to attempt to convince the gentry of the police or of the law that a man condemned to death is innocent. No. From henceforth Jacques Aubrieux belongs to the executioner. But the prospect of securing the sixty banknotes is a windfall worth taking a little trouble over. Just think: that was the weak point in the indictment, those sixty notes which they were unable to trace.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut, as you know nothing of their whereabouts.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear girlтБатАФI hope you donтАЩt mind my calling you so?тБатАФmy dear girl, when a man canтАЩt explain this or that physical phenomenon, he adopts some sort of theory which explains the various manifestations of the phenomenon and says that everything happened as though the theory were correct. ThatтАЩs what I am doing.тАЭ + 

тАЬThat amounts to saying that you are going upon a supposition?тАЭ + 

R├йnine did not reply. Not until some time later, when lunch was over, did he say: + 

тАЬObviously I am going upon a supposition. If I had several days before me, I should take the trouble of first verifying my theory, which is based upon intuition quite as much as upon a few scattered facts. But I have only two hours; and I am embarking on the unknown path as though I were certain that it would lead me to the truth.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd suppose you are wrong?тАЭ + 

тАЬI have no choice. Besides, it is too late. ThereтАЩs a knock. Oh, one word more! Whatever I may say, donтАЩt contradict me. Nor you, M. Dutreuil.тАЭ + 

He opened the door. A thin man, with a red imperial, entered: + 

тАЬPrince R├йnine?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir. You, of course, are from M. Dudouis?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

And the newcomer gave his name: + 

тАЬChief-inspector Morisseau.тАЭ + 

тАЬI am obliged to you for coming so promptly, Mr.┬аChief-inspector,тАЭ said Prince R├йnine, тАЬand I hope that M. Dudouis will not regret having placed you at my disposal.тАЭ + 

тАЬAt your entire disposal, in addition to two inspectors whom I have left in the square outside and who have been in the case, with me, from the first.тАЭ + 

тАЬI shall not detain you for any length of time,тАЭ said R├йnine, тАЬand I will not even ask you to sit down. We have only a few minutes in which to settle everything. You know what itтАЩs all about?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe sixty thousand-franc notes stolen from M. Guillaume. I have the numbers here.тАЭ + 

R├йnine ran his eyes down the slip of paper which the chief-inspector handed him and said: + 

тАЬThatтАЩs right. The two lists agree.тАЭ + 

Inspector Morisseau seemed greatly excited: + 

тАЬThe chief attaches the greatest importance to your discovery. So you will be able to show me?тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

R├йnine was silent for a moment and then declared: + 

тАЬMr.┬аChief-inspector, a personal investigationтБатАФand a most exhaustive investigation it was, as I will explain to you presentlyтБатАФhas revealed the fact that, on his return from Suresnes, the murderer, after replacing the motorcycle in the shed in the Avenue du Roule, ran to the Ternes and entered this house.тАЭ + 

тАЬThis house?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut what did he come here for?тАЭ + 

тАЬTo hide the proceeds of his theft, the sixty banknotes.тАЭ + 

тАЬHow do you mean? Where?тАЭ + 

тАЬIn a flat of which he had the key, on the fifth floor.тАЭ + 

Gaston Dutreuil exclaimed, in amazement: + 

тАЬBut thereтАЩs only one flat on the fifth floor and thatтАЩs the one I live in!тАЭ + 

тАЬExactly; and, as you were at the cinema with Madame Aubrieux and her mother, advantage was taken of your absence.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬImpossible! No one has the key except myself.тАЭ + 

тАЬOne can get in without a key.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut I have seen no marks of any kind.тАЭ + 

Morisseau intervened: + 

тАЬCome, let us understand one another. You say the banknotes were hidden in M. DutreuilтАЩs flat?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen, as Jacques Aubrieux was arrested the next morning, the notes ought to be there still?тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs my opinion.тАЭ + 

Gaston Dutreuil could not help laughing: + 

тАЬBut thatтАЩs absurd! I should have found them!тАЭ + 

тАЬDid you look for them?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo. But I should have come across them at any moment. The place isnтАЩt big enough to swing a cat in. Would you care to see it?тАЭ + 

тАЬHowever small it may be, itтАЩs large enough to hold sixty bits of paper.тАЭ + 

тАЬOf course, everything is possible,тАЭ said Dutreuil. тАЬStill, I must repeat that nobody, to my knowledge, has been to my rooms; that there is only one key; that I am my own housekeeper; and that I canтАЩt quite understand.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

Hortense too could not understand. With her eyes fixed on Prince R├йnineтАЩs, she was trying to read his innermost thoughts. What game was he playing? Was it her duty to support his statements? She ended by saying: + 

тАЬMr.┬аChief-inspector, since Prince R├йnine maintains that the notes have been put away upstairs, wouldnтАЩt the simplest thing be to go and look? M. Dutreuil will take us up, wonтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬThis minute,тАЭ said the young man. тАЬAs you say, that will be simplest.тАЭ + 

They all four climbed the five storys of the house and, after Dutreuil had opened the door, entered a tiny set of chambers consisting of a sitting-room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, all arranged with fastidious neatness. It was easy to see that every chair in the sitting-room occupied a definite place. The pipes had a rack to themselves; so had the matches. Three walking-sticks, arranged according to their length, hung from three nails. On a little table before the window a hatbox, filled with tissue-paper, awaited the felt hat which Dutreuil carefully placed in it. He laid his gloves beside it, on the lid. + 

He did all this with sedate and mechanical movements, like a man who loves to see things in the places which he has chosen for them. Indeed, no sooner did R├йnine shift something than Dutreuil made a slight gesture of protest, took out his hat again, stuck it on his head, opened the window and rested his elbows on the sill, with his back turned to the room, as though he were unable to bear the sight of such vandalism. + 

тАЬYouтАЩre positive, are you not?тАЭ the inspector asked R├йnine. + 

тАЬYes, yes, IтАЩm positive that the sixty notes were brought here after the murder.тАЭ + 

тАЬLetтАЩs look for them.тАЭ + 

This was easy and soon done. In half an hour, not a corner remained unexplored, not a knickknack unlifted. + 

тАЬNothing,тАЭ said Inspector Morisseau. тАЬShall we continue?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo,тАЭ replied R├йnine. тАЬThe notes are no longer here.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat do you mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬI mean that they have been removed.тАЭ + 

тАЬBy whom? CanтАЩt you make a more definite accusation?тАЭ + 

R├йnine did not reply. But Gaston Dutreuil wheeled round. He was choking and spluttered: + 

тАЬMr.┬аInspector, would you like me to make the accusation more definite, as conveyed by this gentlemanтАЩs remarks? It all means that thereтАЩs a dishonest man here, that the notes hidden by the murderer were discovered and stolen by that dishonest man and deposited in another and safer place. That is your idea, sir, is it not? And you accuse me of committing this theft donтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

He came forward, drumming his chest with his fists: тАЬMe! Me! I found the notes, did I, and kept them for myself? You dare to suggest that!тАЭ + 

R├йnine still made no reply. Dutreuil flew into a rage and, taking Inspector Morisseau aside, exclaimed: + 

тАЬMr.┬аInspector, I strongly protest against all this farce and against the part which you are unconsciously playing in it. Before your arrival, Prince R├йnine told this lady and myself that he knew nothing, that he was venturing into this affair at random and that he was following the first road that offered, trusting to luck. Do you deny it, sir?тАЭ + 

R├йnine did not open his lips. + 

тАЬAnswer me, will you? Explain yourself; for, really, you are putting forward the most improbable facts without any proof whatever. ItтАЩs easy enough to say that I stole the notes. And how were you to know that they were here at all? Who brought them here? Why should the murderer choose this flat to hide them in? ItтАЩs all so stupid, so illogical and absurd!тБатАКтБатАж Give us your proofs, sirтБатАКтБатАж one single proof!тАЭ + 

Inspector Morisseau seemed perplexed. He questioned R├йnine with a glance. R├йnine said: + 

тАЬSince you want specific details, we will get them from Madame Aubrieux herself. SheтАЩs on the telephone. LetтАЩs go downstairs. We shall know all about it in a minute.тАЭ + 

Dutreuil shrugged his shoulders: + 

тАЬAs you please; but what a waste of time!тАЭ + 

He seemed greatly irritated. His long wait at the window, under a blazing sun, had thrown him into a sweat. He went to his bedroom and returned with a bottle of water, of which he took a few sips, afterwards placing the bottle on the windowsill: + 

тАЬCome along,тАЭ he said. + 

Prince R├йnine chuckled. + 

тАЬYou seem to be in a hurry to leave the place.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩm in a hurry to show you up,тАЭ retorted Dutreuil, slamming the door. + 

They went downstairs to the private room containing the telephone. The room was empty. R├йnine asked Gaston Dutreuil for the AubrieuxsтАЩ number, took down the instrument and was put through. + 

The maid who came to the telephone answered that Madame Aubrieux had fainted, after giving way to an access of despair, and that she was now asleep. + 

тАЬFetch her mother, please. Prince R├йnine speaking. ItтАЩs urgent.тАЭ + 

He handed the second receiver to Morisseau. For that matter, the voices were so distinct that Dutreuil and Hortense were able to hear every word exchanged. + 

тАЬIs that you, madame?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. Prince R├йnine, I believe?тАЭ + 

тАЬPrince R├йnine.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, sir, what news have you for me? Is there any hope?тАЭ asked the old lady, in a tone of entreaty. + 

тАЬThe enquiry is proceeding very satisfactorily,тАЭ said R├йnine, тАЬand you may hope for the best. For the moment, I want you to give me some very important particulars. On the day of the murder, did Gaston Dutreuil come to your house?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, he came to fetch my daughter and myself, after lunch.тАЭ + 

тАЬDid he know at the time that M. Guillaume had sixty thousand francs at his place?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, I told him.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd that Jacques Aubrieux was not feeling very well and was proposing not to take his usual cycle-ride but to stay at home and sleep?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou are sure?тАЭ + 

тАЬAbsolutely certain.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd you all three went to the cinema together?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd you were all sitting together?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, no! There was no room. He took a seat farther away.тАЭ + 

тАЬA seat where you could see him?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut he came to you during the interval?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, we did not see him until we were going out.тАЭ + 

тАЬThere is no doubt of that?тАЭ + 

тАЬNone at all.тАЭ + 

тАЬVery well, madame. I will tell you the result of my efforts in an hourтАЩs time. But above all, donтАЩt wake up Madame Aubrieux.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd suppose she wakes of her own accord?тАЭ + 

тАЬReassure her and give her confidence. Everything is going well, very well indeed.тАЭ + 

He hung up the receiver and turned to Dutreuil, laughing: + 

тАЬHa, ha, my boy! Things are beginning to look clearer. What do you say?тАЭ + 

It was difficult to tell what these words meant or what conclusions R├йnine had drawn from his conversation. The silence was painful and oppressive. + 

тАЬMr.┬аChief-Inspector, you have some of your men outside, havenтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬTwo detective-sergeants.тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs important that they should be there. Please also ask the manager not to disturb us on any account.тАЭ + 

And, when Morisseau returned, R├йnine closed the door, took his stand in front of Dutreuil and, speaking in a good-humoured but emphatic tone, said: + 

тАЬIt amounts to this, young man, that the ladies saw nothing of you between three and five oтАЩclock on that Sunday. ThatтАЩs rather a curious detail.тАЭ + 

тАЬA perfectly natural detail,тАЭ Dutreuil retorted, тАЬand one, moreover, which proves nothing at all.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt proves, young man, that you had a good two hours at your disposal.тАЭ + 

тАЬObviously. Two hours which I spent at the cinema.тАЭ + 

тАЬOr somewhere else.тАЭ + 

Dutreuil looked at him: + 

тАЬSomewhere else?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. As you were free, you had plenty of time to go wherever you likedтБатАКтБатАж to Suresnes, for instance.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh!тАЭ said the young man, jesting in his turn. тАЬSuresnes is a long way off!тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs quite close! HadnтАЩt you your friend Jacques AubrieuxтАЩs motorcycle?тАЭ + 

A fresh pause followed these words. Dutreuil had knitted his brows as though he were trying to understand. At last he was heard to whisper: + 

тАЬSo that is what he was trying to lead up to!тБатАКтБатАж The brute!тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

R├йnine brought down his hand on DutreuilтАЩs shoulder: + 

тАЬNo more talk! Facts! Gaston Dutreuil, you are the only person who on that day knew two essential things: first, that Cousin Guillaume had sixty thousand francs in his house; secondly, that Jacques Aubrieux was not going out. You at once saw your chance. The motorcycle was available. You slipped out during the performance. You went to Suresnes. You killed Cousin Guillaume. You took the sixty banknotes and left them at your rooms. And at five oтАЩclock you went back to fetch the ladies.тАЭ + 

Dutreuil had listened with an expression at once mocking and flurried, casting an occasional glance at Inspector Morisseau as though to enlist him as a witness: + 

тАЬThe manтАЩs mad,тАЭ it seemed to say. тАЬItтАЩs no use being angry with him.тАЭ + 

When R├йnine had finished, he began to laugh: + 

тАЬVery funny!тБатАКтБатАж A capital joke!тБатАКтБатАж So it was I whom the neighbours saw going and returning on the motorcycle?тАЭ + 

тАЬIt was you disguised in Jacques AubrieuxтАЩs clothes.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd it was my fingerprints that were found on the bottle in M. GuillaumeтАЩs pantry?тАЭ + 

тАЬThe bottle had been opened by Jacques Aubrieux at lunch, in his own house, and it was you who took it with you to serve as evidence.тАЭ + 

тАЬFunnier and funnier!тАЭ cried Dutreuil, who had the air of being frankly amused. тАЬThen I contrived the whole affair so that Jacques Aubrieux might be accused of the crime?тАЭ + 

тАЬIt was the safest means of not being accused yourself.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, but Jacques is a friend whom I have known from childhood.тАЭ + 

тАЬYouтАЩre in love with his wife.тАЭ + 

The young man gave a sudden, infuriated start: + 

тАЬYou dare!тБатАКтБатАж What! You dare make such an infamous suggestion?тАЭ + 

тАЬI have proof of it.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs a lie! I have always respected Madeleine Aubrieux and revered her.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬApparently. But youтАЩre in love with her. You desire her. DonтАЩt contradict me. I have abundant proof of it.тАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs a lie, I tell you! You have only known me a few hours!тАЭ + 

тАЬCome, come! IтАЩve been quietly watching you for days, waiting for the moment to pounce upon you.тАЭ + 

He took the young man by the shoulders and shook him: + 

тАЬCome, Dutreuil, confess! I hold all the proofs in my hand. I have witnesses whom we shall meet presently at the criminal investigation department. Confess, canтАЩt you? In spite of everything, youтАЩre tortured by remorse. Remember your dismay, at the restaurant, when you had seen the newspaper. What? Jacques Aubrieux condemned to die? ThatтАЩs more than you bargained for! Penal servitude would have suited your book; but the scaffold!тБатАКтБатАж Jacques Aubrieux executed tomorrow, an innocent man!тБатАКтБатАж Confess, wonтАЩt you? Confess to save your own skin! Own up!тАЭ + 

Bending over the other, he was trying with all his might to extort a confession from him. But Dutreuil drew himself up and coldly, with a sort of scorn in his voice, said: + 

тАЬSir, you are a madman. Not a word that you have said has any sense in it. All your accusations are false. What about the banknotes? Did you find them at my place as you said you would?тАЭ + 

R├йnine, exasperated, clenched his fist in his face: + 

тАЬOh, you swine, IтАЩll dish you yet, I swear I will!тАЭ + 

He drew the inspector aside: + 

тАЬWell, what do you say to it? An arrant rogue, isnтАЩt he?тАЭ + 

The inspector nodded his head: + 

тАЬIt may be.тБатАКтБатАж But, all the sameтБатАКтБатАж so far thereтАЩs no real evidence.тАЭ + 

тАЬWait, M. Morisseau,тАЭ said R├йnine. тАЬWait until weтАЩve had our interview with M. Dudouis. For we shall see M. Dudouis at the prefecture, shall we not?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, heтАЩll be there at three oтАЩclock.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, youтАЩll be convinced, Mr.┬аInspector! I tell you here and now that you will be convinced.тАЭ + 

R├йnine was chuckling like a man who feels certain of the course of events. Hortense, who was standing near him and was able to speak to him without being heard by the others, asked, in a low voice: + 

тАЬYouтАЩve got him, havenтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

He nodded his head in assent: + 

тАЬGot him? I should think I have! All the same, IтАЩm no farther forward than I was at the beginning.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut this is awful! And your proofs?тАЭ + 

тАЬNot the shadow of a proofтБатАКтБатАж I was hoping to trip him up. But heтАЩs kept his feet, the rascal!тАЭ + 

тАЬStill, youтАЩre certain itтАЩs he?тАЭ + 

тАЬIt canтАЩt be anyone else. I had an intuition at the very outset; and IтАЩve not taken my eyes off him since. I have seen his anxiety increasing as my investigations seemed to centre on him and concern him more closely. Now I know.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd heтАЩs in love with Madame Aubrieux?тАЭ + 

тАЬIn logic, heтАЩs bound to be. But so far we have only hypothetical suppositions, or rather certainties which are personal to myself. We shall never intercept the guillotine with those. Ah, if we could only find the banknotes! Given the banknotes, M. Dudouis would act. Without them, he will laugh in my face.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat then?тАЭ murmured Hortense, in anguished accents. + 

He did not reply. He walked up and down the room, assuming an air of gaiety and rubbing his hands. All was going so well! It was really a treat to take up a case which, so to speak, worked itself out automatically. + 

тАЬSuppose we went on to the prefecture, M. Morisseau? The chief must be there by now. And, having gone so far, we may as well finish. Will M. Dutreuil come with us?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy not?тАЭ said Dutreuil, arrogantly. + 

But, just as R├йnine was opening the door, there was a noise in the passage and the manager ran up, waving his arms: + 

тАЬIs M. Dutreuil still here?тБатАКтБатАж M. Dutreuil, your flat is on fire!тБатАКтБатАж A man outside told us. He saw it from the square.тАЭ + 

The young manтАЩs eyes lit up. For perhaps half a second his mouth was twisted by a smile which R├йnine noticed: + 

тАЬOh, you ruffian!тАЭ he cried. тАЬYouтАЩve given yourself away, my beauty! It was you who set fire to the place upstairs; and now the notes are burning.тАЭ + 

He blocked his exit. + 

тАЬLet me pass,тАЭ shouted Dutreuil. тАЬThereтАЩs a fire and no one can get in, because no one else has a key. Here it is. Let me pass, damn it!тАЭ + 

R├йnine snatched the key from his hand and, holding him by the collar of his coat: + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you move, my fine fellow! The gameтАЩs up! You precious blackguard! M. Morisseau, will you give orders to the sergeant not to let him out of his sight and to blow out his brains if he tries to get away? Sergeant, we rely on you! Put a bullet into him, if necessary!тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

He hurried up the stairs, followed by Hortense and the chief inspector, who was protesting rather peevishly: + 

тАЬBut, I say, look here, it wasnтАЩt he who set the place on fire! How do you make out that he set it on fire, seeing that he never left us?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy, he set it on fire beforehand, to be sure!тАЭ + 

тАЬHow? I ask you, how?тАЭ + 

тАЬHow do I know? But a fire doesnтАЩt break out like that, for no reason at all, at the very moment when a man wants to burn compromising papers.тАЭ + 

They heard a commotion upstairs. It was the waiters of the restaurant trying to burst the door open. An acrid smell filled the well of the staircase. + 

R├йnine reached the top floor: + 

тАЬBy your leave, friends. I have the key.тАЭ + 

He inserted it in the lock and opened the door. + 

He was met by a gust of smoke so dense that one might well have supposed the whole floor to be ablaze. R├йnine at once saw that the fire had gone out of its own accord, for lack of fuel, and that there were no more flames: + 

тАЬM. Morisseau, you wonтАЩt let anyone come in with us, will you? An intruder might spoil everything. Bolt the door, that will be best.тАЭ + 

He stepped into the front room, where the fire had obviously had its chief centre. The furniture, the walls and the ceiling, though blackened by the smoke, had not been touched. As a matter of fact, the fire was confined to a blaze of papers which was still burning in the middle of the room, in front of the window. + 

R├йnine struck his forehead: + 

тАЬWhat a fool I am! What an unspeakable ass!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy?тАЭ asked the inspector. + 

тАЬThe hatbox, of course! The cardboard hatbox which was standing on the table. ThatтАЩs where he hid the notes. They were there all through our search.тАЭ + 

тАЬImpossible!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy, yes, we always overlook that particular hiding-place, the one just under our eyes, within reach of our hands! How could one imagine that a thief would leave sixty thousand francs in an open cardboard box, in which he places his hat when he comes in, with an absentminded air? ThatтАЩs just the one place we donтАЩt look in.тБатАКтБатАж Well played, M. Dutreuil!тАЭ + 

The inspector, who remained incredulous, repeated: + 

тАЬNo, no, impossible! We were with him and he could not have started the fire himself.тАЭ + 

тАЬEverything was prepared beforehand on the supposition that there might be an alarm.тБатАКтБатАж The hatboxтБатАКтБатАж the tissue paperтБатАКтБатАж the banknotes: they must all have been steeped in some inflammable liquid. He must have thrown a match, a chemical preparation or whatnot into it, as we were leaving.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut we should have seen him, hang it all! And then is it credible that a man who has committed a murder for the sake of sixty thousand francs should do away with the money in this way? If the hiding-place was such a good oneтБатАФand it was, because we never discovered itтБатАФwhy this useless destruction?тАЭ + 

тАЬHe got frightened, M. Morisseau. Remember that his head is at stake and he knows it. Anything rather than the guillotine; and theyтБатАФthe banknotesтБатАФwere the only proof which we had against him. How could he have left them where they were?тАЭ + 

Morisseau was flabbergasted: + 

тАЬWhat! The only proof?тАЭ + 

тАЬWhy, obviously!тАЭ + 

тАЬBut your witnesses? Your evidence? All that you were going to tell the chief?тАЭ + 

тАЬMere bluff.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, upon my word,тАЭ growled the bewildered inspector, тАЬyouтАЩre a cool customer!тАЭ + 

тАЬWould you have taken action without my bluff?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen what more do you want?тАЭ + 

R├йnine stooped to stir the ashes. But there was nothing left, not even those remnants of stiff paper which still retain their shape. + 

тАЬNothing,тАЭ he said. тАЬItтАЩs queer, all the same! How the deuce did he manage to set the thing alight?тАЭ + 

He stood up, looking attentively about him. Hortense had a feeling that he was making his supreme effort and that, after this last struggle in the dark, he would either have devised his plan of victory or admit that he was beaten. + 

Faltering with anxiety, she asked: + 

тАЬItтАЩs all up, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, no,тАЭ he said, thoughtfully, тАЬitтАЩs not all up. It was, a few seconds ago. But now there is a gleam of lightтБатАКтБатАж and one that gives me hope.тАЭ + 

тАЬGod grant that it may be justified!тАЭ + 

тАЬWe must go slowly,тАЭ he said. тАЬIt is only an attempt, but a fine, a very fine attempt; and it may succeed.тАЭ + 

He was silent for a moment; then, with an amused smile and a click of the tongue, he said: + 

тАЬAn infernally clever fellow, that Dutreuil! His trick of burning the notes: what a fertile imagination! And what coolness! A pretty dance the beggar has led me! HeтАЩs a master!тАЭ + 

He fetched a broom from the kitchen and swept a part of the ashes into the next room, returning with a hatbox of the same size and appearance as the one which had been burnt. After crumpling the tissue paper with which it was filled, he placed the hatbox on the little table and set fire to it with a match. + 

It burst into flames, which he extinguished when they had consumed half the cardboard and nearly all the paper. Then he took from an inner pocket of his waistcoat a bundle of banknotes and selected six, which he burnt almost completely, arranging the remains and hiding the rest of the notes at the bottom of the box, among the ashes and the blackened bits of paper: + 

тАЬM. Morisseau,тАЭ he said, when he had done, тАЬI am asking for your assistance for the last time. Go and fetch Dutreuil. Tell him just this: тАШYou are unmasked. The notes did not catch fire. Come with me.тАЩ And bring him up here.тАЭ + 

Despite his hesitation and his fear of exceeding his instructions from the head of the detective service, the chief-inspector was powerless to throw off the ascendancy which R├йnine had acquired over him. He left the room. + 

R├йnine turned to Hortense: + 

тАЬDo you understand my plan of battle?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ she said, тАЬbut itтАЩs a dangerous experiment. Do you think that Dutreuil will fall into the trap?тАЭ + 

тАЬEverything depends on the state of his nerves and the degree of demoralization to which he is reduced. A surprise attack may very well do for him.тАЭ + 

тАЬNevertheless, suppose he recognizes by some sign that the box has been changed?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, of course, he has a few chances in his favour! The fellow is much more cunning than I thought and quite capable of wriggling out of the trap. On the other hand, however, how uneasy he must be! How the blood must be buzzing in his ears and obscuring his sight! No, I donтАЩt think that he will avoid the trap.тБатАКтБатАж He will give in.тБатАКтБатАж He will give in.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

They exchanged no more words. R├йnine did not move. Hortense was stirred to the very depths of her being. The life of an innocent man hung trembling in the balance. An error of judgment, a little bad luckтБатАКтБатАж and, twelve hours later, Jacques Aubrieux would be put to death. And together with a horrible anguish she experienced, in spite of all, a feeling of eager curiosity. What was Prince R├йnine going to do? What would be the outcome of the experiment on which he was venturing? What resistance would Gaston Dutreuil offer? She lived through one of those minutes of superhuman tension in which life becomes intensified until it reaches its utmost value. + 

They heard footsteps on the stairs, the footsteps of men in a hurry. The sound drew nearer. They were reaching the top floor. + 

Hortense looked at her companion. He had stood up and was listening, his features already transfigured by action. The footsteps were now echoing in the passage. Then, suddenly, he ran to the door and cried: + 

тАЬQuick! LetтАЩs make an end of it!тАЭ + 

Two or three detectives and a couple of waiters entered. He caught hold of Dutreuil in the midst of the detectives and pulled him by the arm, gaily exclaiming: + 

тАЬWell done, old man! That trick of yours with the table and the water-bottle was really splendid! A masterpiece, on my word! Only, it didnтАЩt come off!тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat do you mean? WhatтАЩs the matter?тАЭ mumbled Gaston Dutreuil, staggering. + 

тАЬWhat I say: the fire burnt only half the tissue-paper and the hatbox; and, though some of the banknotes were destroyed, like the tissue-paper, the others are there, at the bottom.тБатАКтБатАж You understand? The long-sought notes, the great proof of the murder: theyтАЩre there, where you hid them.тБатАКтБатАж As chance would have it, theyтАЩve escaped burning.тБатАКтБатАж Here, look: there are the numbers; you can check them.тБатАКтБатАж Oh, youтАЩre done for, done for, my beauty!тАЭ + 

The young man drew himself up stiffly. His eyelids quivered. He did not accept R├йnineтАЩs invitation to look; he examined neither the hatbox nor the banknotes. From the first moment, without taking the time to reflect and before his instinct could warn him, he believed what he was told and collapsed heavily into a chair, weeping. + 

The surprise attack, to use R├йnineтАЩs expression, had succeeded. On seeing all his plans baffled and the enemy master of his secrets, the wretched man had neither the strength nor the perspicacity necessary to defend himself. He threw up the sponge. + 

R├йnine gave him no time to breathe: + 

тАЬCapital! YouтАЩre saving your head; and thatтАЩs all, my good youth! Write down your confession and get it off your chest. HereтАЩs a fountain-pen.тБатАКтБатАж The luck has been against you, I admit. It was devilishly well thought out, your trick of the last moment. You had the banknotes which were in your way and which you wanted to destroy. Nothing simpler. You take a big, round-bellied water-bottle and stand it on the windowsill. It acts as a burning-glass, concentrating the rays of the sun on the cardboard and tissue-paper, all nicely prepared. Ten minutes later, it bursts into flames. A splendid idea! And, like all great discoveries, it came quite by chance, what? It reminds one of NewtonтАЩs apple.тБатАКтБатАж One day, the sun, passing through the water in that bottle, must have set fire to a scrap of cotton or the head of a match; and, as you had the sun at your disposal just now, you said to yourself, тАШNowтАЩs the time,тАЩ and stood the bottle in the right position. My congratulations, Gaston!тБатАКтБатАж Look, hereтАЩs a sheet of paper. Write down: тАШIt was I who murdered M. Guillaume.тАЩ Write, I tell you!тАЭ + 

Leaning over the young man, with all his implacable force of will he compelled him to write, guiding his hand and dictating the sentences. Dutreuil, exhausted, at the end of his strength, wrote as he was told. + 

тАЬHereтАЩs the confession, Mr.┬аChief-inspector,тАЭ said R├йnine. тАЬYou will be good enough to take it to M. Dudouis. These gentlemen,тАЭ turning to the waiters, from the restaurant, тАЬwill, I am sure, consent to serve as witnesses.тАЭ + 

And, seeing that Dutreuil, overwhelmed by what had happened, did not move, he gave him a shake: + 

тАЬHi, you, look alive! Now that youтАЩve been fool enough to confess, make an end of the job, my gentle idiot!тАЭ + 

The other watched him, standing in front of him. + 

тАЬObviously,тАЭ R├йnine continued, тАЬyouтАЩre only a simpleton. The hatbox was fairly burnt to ashes: so were the notes. That hatbox, my dear fellow, is a different one; and those notes belong to me. I even burnt six of them to make you swallow the stunt. And you couldnтАЩt make out what had happened. What an owl you must be! To furnish me with evidence at the last moment, when I hadnтАЩt a single proof of my own! And such evidence! A written confession! Written before witnesses!тБатАКтБатАж Look here, my man, if they do cut off your headтБатАФas I sincerely hope they willтБатАФupon my word, youтАЩll have jolly well deserved it! Goodbye, Dutreuil!тАЭ + 

Downstairs, in the street, R├йnine asked Hortense Daniel to take the car, go to Madeleine Aubrieux and tell her what had happened. + 

тАЬAnd you?тАЭ asked Hortense. + 

тАЬI have a lot to doтБатАКтБатАж urgent appointments.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬAnd you deny yourself the pleasure of bringing the good news?тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs one of the pleasures that pall upon one. The only pleasure that never flags is that of the fight itself. Afterwards, things cease to be interesting.тАЭ + 

She took his hand and for a moment held it in both her own. She would have liked to express all her admiration to that strange man, who seemed to do good as a sort of game and who did it with something like genius. But she was unable to speak. All these rapid incidents had upset her. Emotion constricted her throat and brought the tears to her eyes. + 

R├йnine bowed his head, saying: + 

тАЬThank you. I have my reward.тАЭ + 