Litchfield enquirer., 1879-07-03
A AsKILLED DETECTIVES WAY.

Pere Tabaret surnamed Tirauclalre, stand ing at the threshold, bowed almost to the ground bending his old back into an arch, and in the humblest of voices demanded: h
 'The judge of inquiry has deigned to send for me-" ..r se.J r.rT
 s'Yes," replied Daburon, adding under his breath 'and, if you are man of any ability, there is at least nothing to indicate 1t in your
 II am here," continued the old fellow,
 completely at the service of justice"
 sI wish to know," replied the judge, "whether you cannot, with more success than has attended our efforts, discover some indca- tion that may serve to put us upon the track of the author of this atroclous crime VIII explain the"
 ''Ok, know enough of it "interrupted Pere Tabaret. .'Lecoq has told me as much as l desire to know"
 Nevertheless" commenced the commis- sary.
 If you will permit me, prefer to proceed without receiving any information, Tn order to be more fully master of my own impressions. you know another's opinion, it can't help in- . fuepcing your judgment. will, if you please, at once commence my researches, with LecoQ's assistance"
 AS the old fellow spoke, his little gray eyes dilated and became brilliant as car5uncles. Ills face reflected an internal satisfaction; even his wrinkles seemed to laugh. His figure became erect his step almost elastic as he darted rather than walked into the second chamber. He remained there about half an hour then came out running, then re-appeared and came out again again re-entered, and again reap peared almost immediately. The judge could not help comparing him to pointer on the scent; restless and active he ran hither and thither, carrying his nose in the air as ii to discover some subtle odor left by the assassin. All the while he talked loudly and with much gesticulation apostrophizing himself, scOlding himself, uttering little crles of triumph or self encouragement. He did not allow LecOq to have moments rest. He wanted this or that | or the other thing. He demanded paper and | pencil. Then he wanted a spade; and finally l he cried out for plaster of Paris and 6 bottle of oil. With these he left the cottage. When more than an hour had elapsed the judge of inquiry began to lose patience and asked what had become of the anna teur detec- tive
 'He is on the road" replied the brigadier, plaster in a plate. He says he is nearly fin | ished, and that he is coming back presently" Tabaret entered almost instantly, joyous, triumphant looking at least twenty years younger Lecoq followed him, carrying, with the utmost precaution, large pannier. 'I have it." said he to the judge, ''com- 1 pletely. It is as plain as monday. Lecoq, ! my boy, put the pannier on the table," | Gevrol at this moment returned from his ex- petition equally delighted. ''I ana on the track of the man with the rings ! in his ears, '" said he; ''the sloOp went down l the river. l have obtained an exact descrip- l tion of Captain Gervaise. "What have you done, NJ. Tabaret ?" said the judge of inquiry
 The old fellow carefully emptied the con- | tents of the pannier-a huge lump of potter's | clay, several large sheets of paper, and three or four small morsels of plaster yet damp. Standing behind this table he presented gro- tesque resemblance to ountebank conjurer who in the public squares makes buildings in I hats, swallows swords and eats fire. His dress was in singular state he was:mud to the chin.
 'In the first place." said he, at last, in tone of affected modesty, robbery has had nothing | to do with the crime that occupies our atten- | tion." "On the contrary" muttered Gevrol. 'I shall prove it," continued PeTe Tabaret, ''by the evidence By and by shall offer my humble opinion as to the real motive."
 'Tn the second place the assassin arrived here before half: past nine that is to say, be- fore the rain fell. No more than M. Gevrol have been able to discover traces of muddy lOOLSLCpS UuG uuuCI U0OlCp Oh oPOb where his feet rested, find dust. We are thus assured of the hour. The widow did not expect her visitor. She had commenced un- dressing, and was about to wind up her cuckoo clock when he entered"
 ''These are absolute details!" cried the con- missary
 "But easily established, "repliedth amateur. ''Examine this cuckoo clock it is one ofthOse which run fourteen or fifteen hours at most. ic thon nrNhollo if io certain that the widow wound it up every evening be- fore going to bed.
 "How, then, should the clock have stopped at nine? She must have touched it at that hour. At the moment she was drawing the chain the assassin knocked. In proof, show this chair below the clock, and on the seat very plain mark of foot. Now look at the dress of the victim. The waist of her gown is taken off. In order to open the door more quickly, she did not wait to put it on again, but hastily threw an old shawl over her shoul- ders.'
 "Sapristi'' exclaimed the brigadier, evident ly filled with admiration.
 ''The widow" continued the old fellow, 'knew the person who knocked. Her haste to, open the door gives rise to this conjecture what follows proves it. The assassin then gained admission without difficulty. He was young man, a little above the middle height, elegantly dressed. He wore on that evening high hat. He carried an umbrella and smoked a trabucos with cigar-holder."
 "Ridiculous!" cried Gevrol. ''rhis is too strong!"
 "Too strong for you perhaps rrtorted Pere Tabaret "At all events it is the truth. If you have not been minute in your examina- tions there is no reason why shouldn't be- searched and find. Too strong, say you? We'll, deign to glance at these morsels of damp plaster. They represent the heels of the boots worn by tile assassin, of which l found the most perfect impression near the ditch, where the key was picked up On these sheets of paper I have marked in outline the imprint of the fool which 1 cannot take up be- cause it is in the gravel.
 Look heel high, instep pronounced, sole small and narrew-an elegant boot, belonging to foot we'll cared for evidently. Look for this impression all along the road; and you will find it five times repeated in the garden; and these footprints prove, by the way, that the stranger knocked not at the door but at the window shutter, beneath which shone gleam of light. Near the entrance of the gar den the man made a leap to avoid a square 1ower-bed; the point of the foot, more deeply imprinted than usual, shows it. He leaped more than two yards with ease, proving that he is active, and, therefore. young. Pere Tabaret spoke now in low voice, but clear and penetrating; and his eye glanced from one to another of his auditors, watching the impression he was making. earI
 ''Does the hat astenish you, Gevrol?" pur- sued Pere Tabaret. ''Just look at this cinele traced in the dust on the marble of the secre- tary. That was where he placed his hat so we arrive at the shape and size of the crown; and the height is, at least, presumable. Now the assassin put his hands on the top shelf of the cupboard to get at it's contents. If he had been very tall man he could have seen them without touching the shelf and if very short man he would have stood upon chair conse- quently he must have been little above the middle height. You seem troubled about the umbrella and the cigar holder; but they are very simple. Thus lump of earth preserves an admirable impression, not only of the point but even of the little wooden shield which holds the silk Then as for the cigar, here is the end of trabucos that l found in the ashes. Is it hitten2 No Has it heen nloistened with