rm our conviction, we must conclude that the contents
of this letter, if it can be found, will clear away our last doubts,
will explain the crime, and will render the assassin's precautions
wholly useless. The count, therefore, must do everything in the
world, must attempt the impossible, not to leave this danger behind
him. His preparations for flight ended, Hector, in spite of his
deadly peril, of the speeding time, of the coming day, instead of
flying recommences with more desperation than ever his useless
search. Again he goes through all the furniture, the books, the
papers--in vain. Then he determines to search the second story,
and armed with his hatchet, goes up to it. He has already attacked
a bureau, when he hears a cry in the garden. He runs to the window
--what does he see? Philippe and old Bertaud are standing on the
river-bank under the willows, near the corpse. Can you imagine his
immense terror? Now, there's not a second to lose--he has already
delayed too long. The danger is near, terrible. Daylight has come,
the crime is discovered, they are coming, he sees himself lost
beyond hope. He must fly, fly at once, at the peril of being seen,
met, arrested. He throws the hatchet down violently--it cuts the
floor. He rushes down, slips the bank-notes in his pocket, seizes
Guespin's torn and smeared vest, which he will throw into the river
from the bridge, and saves himself by the garden. Forgetting all
caution, confused, beside himself, covered with blood, he runs,
clears the ditch, and it is he whom old Bertaud sees making for the
forest of Mauprevoir, where he intends to arrange the disorder of
his clothes. For the moment he is safe. But he leaves behind him
this letter, which is, believe me, a formidable witness, which will
enlighten justice and will betray his guilt and the perfidy of his
projects. For he has not found it, but we will find it; it is
necessary for us to have it to defeat Monsieur Domini, and to change
our doubts into certainty."

XI

A long silence followed the detective's discourse. Perhaps his
hearers were casting about for objections. At last Dr. Gendron
spoke:

"I don't see Guespin's part in all this."

"Nor I, very clearly," answered M. Lecoq. "And here I ought to
confess to you not only the strength, but the weakness also, of the
theory I have adopted. By this method, which consists of
reconstructing the crime before discovering the criminal,