y. The window gives upon a low
roof, which communicates with the back street. Escape would be quite
easy from that side."

"Well," said the commissary, "and you found this gentleman? Do you
know him? His name? Have you ever seen him before?"

"He is M. le Baron d'Enot; he is a constant visitor at the house. Very
fortunate, I believe, and I heard he won largely last night."

"Ah!" said the commissary. This fact was important, as affording a
reason for the crime. "And do you suspect any one? Have you any idea
who was here at the last?"

"I scarcely noticed the gentlemen as they went away; it would be
impossible for me, therefore, to say who remained."

"Then there is no clue--"

"Hush! Mr. Commissary." It was the doctor's exclamation. "The victim
is still alive, and is trying, I think, to speak." Evidence given at
the point of death has extreme value in every country, under every
kind of law. The commissary therefore bent his head, closely attentive
to catch any words the dying man might utter.

"Water! water!" he gasped out. "Revenge me; it was a foul and cowardly
blow."

"Who struck you, can you tell us? Do you know him?" inquired the
commissary, eagerly.

"Yes. I--know--" The voice grew visibly weaker; it sank into a
whisper, and could speak only in monosyllables.

"His name--quick!"

"There--were--three--I had no chance--Gas--coigne--"

"Strange name--not French?"

The dying man shook his head.

"Gasc--tell--Engl--"

It was the last supreme effort. With a long, deep groan, the poor
fellow fell back dead.

"How unfortunate!" cried the commissary, "to die just when he would
have told us all. These few words will scarcely suffice to identify
the murderers. Can any one help us?"

M. Bontoux looked round.

"The name he mentioned I know," said the night-porter, quickly. "This
M. Gascoigne came here frequently. He is an Englishman."

"So I gathered from the dead man's words. Do you know his domicile in
Paris?"

"Rue St. Honore, Hotel Versailles and St. Cloud. I have seen him enter
it more than once, with his wife. He has lived there some months."

"We must, if possible, lay hands on him at once. You, Jules, hasten
with another police-agent to the Rue St. Honore; he may have gone
straight to his hotel."

"And if we find him?"

"Arrest him and take him straight to the Prefecture. I will follow.
There, there! lose no time."

"I am already gone," said the police-officer as he ran downstairs.