The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-11-16

apartment was what principally oeeu
pied his attention. 1t was uniniureC
and the key turned in it without the
slightest difficulty. This circumstanc,
entirely precluded the idea that /:
stranger had entered at night by ths
help of false keys.
On my part, mechanically, or rather
inspired by the astonishing instinc
that had been revealed in me, l haC
just picked up the cork half covered
with green wax, which had seen OF
the floor.
1t had been used, and the waxeG
portion still showed the marks of the
corkscrew, but in the other end was 6
deep notch, evidently produced by
some sharp instrument.
Suspecting the Importance of my
discovery, l impaired it to Monsieur
Mechinet, who could not restrain an
exclammatiOn of pleasure.
sat last" he cried, I'VE have a clue.
This cork was dropped here by the
assassin. 1t was fastened on the point
of the weapon he used. Inference;
the instrument of murder is poniard,
fastened into handle, and not a knife
that shuts. With this cork / am sure
of finding the criminal, whoever he
may ber'
The commissiary of police was fin.
ishing his work in the bed-chamber
and Monsieur Mechinet and had re
manned in the drawing room, when we
were interrupted by the sound of pant
ing breath.
Almost instantly, the stout woman
whom l had seen in the vestibule har-
anguing in the midst of the dodgers,
appeared.
1t was the concierge, redder, if pos,
sible, than when we arrived.
"What can do for you, monsieur
she asked Monsieur Mechinet.
"Sit down, madame" he replied.
''But, monsieur, 1 have some peo-
pie below"
They will wait for you. / tell you
to sit down
Nonplussed by Moesieur Mechinet's
tone, she obeyed. Then fixing bis lit
tie grey eyes upon her,
Il need certain information, he
began, land am going to question
you. In your own interest, l advise
you to answer without evasion. In the
first place, what is the name of the
poor old man who has been murderedl' r.
His name was Pigoreau, monsieur,
but ne was best known by that of An
tenor, which be bad formerly borne
because it was better suited to his bus
iness."
HAS he lived in this house longT'
For eight years."
Where did he live beforer'
'In the Rue Richelieu, where he
had his shop-for he was hairdresser,
and made his fortune in the business. -"
80 he was considered rich man.
1--WE heard his niece say he hadn't
less than a million"
This matter could be easily decided,
since an inventory had been made of
the old mans papers.
Now" continued Monsieur Ne
ehinet, "what sort of man was this
Monsieur Pigoreau or Antenorp'
"Oh, the best of men, monsieur, "
replied the concierge. "He was very
troublesome, eccentric, and miserly
as possible, but not bit proud. And
SO comical too7 One could have lis
tened to him all night, when he was
in the right mood. He knew SO many
stories. Just think, an old hairdresser,
who, AZ he said. had arranged the hair
of the handsomest woman in Paris"
"How did he livel"
Like everybody else. Like ever!
body who has an income, l mean, and
yet is careful of money"
"Can you give me any particularsf
"Oh, yes, seeing that / had charge
of his housekeeping. And it gave me
| very little trouble, for he did almost
everything - sweeping, busting, and
polishing-himself. 1t was his hobby.
Then, every day of his life, when the
clock struck twelve, took him cup
of chocolate. He drank it, swallowed
a glass of water directly after, and that
was his breakfast. Then ne dressed,
and this occupied nearly two hours,
for he was more coquettish and par
ticular about his person than a bride.
As soon as he was dressed he went oul
to walk. At six o'clock, he dined al
q boarding house kept by tie demoi-
selles Comet, Rue de la Paix. After
dinner he went to the'Cafe Guerboi:
to drink bis coffee, and at clever
O'Clock came home and went to bed
The poor old man had but one fault
He had too much regard for the fail
Sex. / often said to him, AREN'T yor
ashamed of yourself, at your agei
But nobody is perfect, and We can un-
derstapd this is an old perfumer, who
had had a great many favors in hi
life."
A smile fitted over the face of th'
stout concierge, but nothing coulC
make Monsieur Mechinet unbend.
Did Monsieur Pigoreau receiy'
many visitorsi" he asked.
Very few. / rarely saw any on,
come to see him, except his nephew
Monsieur Nonistrol, who dined Will
him every Sunday stPere Lathuile's. >
"And on what terms were the unel
and nephewf'
''They we're like hand and glove"
did they never have any disputes
''Never, except that they were alway
squebbling about Madame Clare"
"Who is this Madame ClareF'
Monsieur Monistrors wife, a mae
. nificent creature. Monsieur Anteno
couldn't bear her. He said his ne
phew loved her too much, that she lie
him by the nose, and made him &c
| everything as she wished. He declal
ed that she didn't love her husband
| that she felt above her business, an
would end by doing something foolisf
Madame Glare and her urcla uara g