of this worthy man's
death as much as anyone; but on the other hand, I cannot help
rejoicing at this excellent opportunity to test the efficacy of my
sensitive paper--"

"Confound these men of science," cried the indignant Plantat. "They
are all alike!"

"Why so? I can very well comprehend the doctor's involuntary
sensations. Am I not ravished when I encounter a fine crime?"

And without waiting for his guest's reply, he continued reading the
letter:

"The experiments promised to be all the more conclusive as
aconitine is one of those drugs which conceal themselves most
obstinately from analysis. I proceed thus: After heating the
suspected substances in twice their weight of alcohol, I drop the
liquid gently into a vase with edges a little elevated, at the
bottom of which is a piece of paper on which I have placed my tests.
If my paper retains its color, there is no poison; if it changes,
the poison is there. In this case my paper was of a light yellow
color, and if we were not mistaken, it ought either to become
covered with brown spots, or completely brown. I explained this
experiment beforehand to the judge of instruction and the experts
who were assisting me. Ah, my friend, what a success I had! When
the first drops of alcohol fell, the paper at once became a dark
brown; your suspicions are thus proved to be quite correct. The
substances which I submitted to the test were liberally saturated
with aconitine. I never obtained more decisive results in my
laboratory. I expect that my conclusions will be disputed in court;
but I have means of verifying them, so that I shall surely confound
all the chemists who oppose me. I think, my dear friend, that you
will not be indifferent to the satisfaction I feel--"

M. Plantat lost patience.

"This is unheard-of!" cried he. "Incredible! Would you say, now,
that this poison which he found in Sauvresy's body was stolen from
his own laboratory? Why, that body is nothing more to him than
'suspected matter!' And he already imagines himself discussing the
merits of his sensitive paper in court!"

"He has reason to look for antagonists in court."

"And meanwhile he makes his experiments, and analyzes with the
coolest blood in the world; he continues his abominable cooking,
boiling and filtering, and preparing his arguments--!"

M. Lecoq did not share in his friend's indignation; he was not sorry
at the prospect of a bitter struggle in court, and he imagined a
great scient