o carry out the rest of
his plan, to arrange everything to throw the law off the scent, and
to make it appear that he, as well as his wife, has been murdered.
He hunts up Guespin's vest, tears it out at the pocket, and puts a
piece of it in the countess's hand. Then taking the body in his
arms, crosswise, he goes downstairs. The wounds bleed frightfully
--hence the numerous stains discovered all along his path. Reaching
the foot of the staircase he is obliged to put the countess down,
in order to open the garden-door. This explains the large stain
in the vestibule. The count, having opened the door, returns for
the body and carries it in his arms as far as the edge of the lawn;
there he stops carrying it, and drags it by the shoulders, walking
backward, trying thus to create the impression that his own body
has been dragged across there and thrown into the Seine. But the
wretch forgot two things which betray him to us. He did not reflect
that the countess's skirts, in being dragged along the grass,
pressing it down and breaking it for a considerable space, spoiled
his trick. Nor did he think that her elegant and well-curved feet,
encased in small high-heeled boots, would mould themselves in the
damp earth of the lawn, and thus leave against him a proof clearer
than the day."

M. Plantat rose abruptly.

"Ah," said he, "you said nothing of this before."

"Nor of several other things, either. But I was before ignorant of
some facts which I now know; and as I had reason to suppose that
you were better informed than I, I was not sorry to avenge myself
for a caution which seemed to me mysterious."

"Well, you are avenged," remarked the doctor, smiling.

"On the other side of the lawn," continued M. Lecoq, "the count
again took up the countess's body. But forgetting the effect of
water when it spirts, or--who knows?--disliking to soil himself,
instead of throwing her violently in the river, he put her down
softly, with great precaution. That's not all. He wished it to
appear that there had been a terrible struggle. What does he do?
Stirs up the sand with the end of his foot. And he thinks that
will deceive the police!"

"Yes, yes," muttered Plantat, "exactly so--I saw it."

"Having got rid of the body, the count returns to the house. Time
presses, but he is still anxious to find the paper. He hastens to
take the last measures to assure his safety. He smears his slippers
and handkerchief with blood. He throws his hand