at the Hotel de
Mariembourg. His diligence has been wonderful. He has hitherto been in
advance of us everywhere, and this fact explains the failures that have
attended all my efforts. Here we arrive before him. But if he came here,
it was because he scented danger. Hence, we may hope. Now let us get
back and question Polyte's wife."

Alas! poor Toinon the Virtuous did not understand the affair at all. She
had remained upstairs, holding her child by the hand, and leaning over
the baluster; her mind in great perplexity and her eyes and ears on the
alert. As soon as she perceived the two detectives coming up the stairs
again, she hastened down to meet them. "In the name of heaven, what does
this all mean?" she asked. "Whatever has happened?"

But Lecoq was not the man to tell his business on a landing, with
inquisitive ears all around him, and before he answered Toinon he made
her go up into her own garret, and securely close the door.

"We started in pursuit of a man who is implicated in the murders at the
Poivriere," he said; "one who came here hoping to find you alone, who
was frightened at seeing us."

"A murderer!" faltered Toinon, with clasped hands. "What could he want
of me?"

"Who knows? It is very probable that he is one of your husband's
friends."

"Oh! sir."

"Why, did you not tell me just now that Polyte had some very undesirable
acquaintances? But don't be alarmed; this does not compromise him in the
least. Besides, you can very easily clear him of all suspicion."

"How? In what way? Oh, tell me at once."

"Merely by answering me frankly, and by assisting me to find the guilty
party. Now, among your husband's friends, don't you know any who might
be capable of such a deed? Give me the names of his acquaintances."

The poor woman's hesitation was evident; undoubtedly she had been
present at many sinister cabals, and had been threatened with terrible
punishment if she dared to disclose the plans formed by Polyte or his
associates.

"You have nothing to fear," said Lecoq, encouragingly, "and I promise
you no one shall ever know that you have told me a word. Very probably
you can tell me nothing more than I know already. I have heard a great
deal about your former life, and the brutality with which Polyte and his
mother have treated you."

"My husband has never treated me brutally," said the young woman,
indignantly; "besides, that matter would only concern myself."

"And your mother-in-law?"