Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-07-08
CHAPTER VIII.

At 6 o'clock Fanferlot was up--it was
necessary to rise very early II he wished
to catch NJ. Lecoq at homeland, re-
freshed by a cup Of strong coffee, he d.
rected his steps toward the dwelling OF
the celebrated detective. The door was
opened ~ Janouille, M. Lecoq's old seq
want, who had the manner and appear
ance OF a grenadier.
"Well, M. Fanferlot,'' she said, you
come in time for once in your life. Your
governor wants to see you"
In the middle OF large room curious
ly furnished, hale library and half green
room, was seated at desk the same
person with gold spectacles, who had
said to Prosper at the police office:
''Have courage"
This was NJ. Lecoq in his official char
acter. Upon Fanferlot's entrance, ms he
advanced respectfully, bowling till his
backbone was perfect curve, NJ. Lccoq
laid down his pen, and said, looking
sharply Mt him:
"Ah, here you are, young man. Well,
1t seems you haven't made much pro-
gress in the Bertomy case. know that
you have muddled everything until you
can't see your way out, SO that you are
ready to give up"
"You are right, patron" said Fanfer-
lot. but how could go about an affair
like this, where there was not even Il
trace or sign to start fromg
"Wby, don't you know that on the
very day you were sent for with the COM
missary to verify the robbery, you held
in your great stupid hands the means of
knowing which key had been used when
the money was stolenW
"How? WhatT'
"You want to know, do you? ! Will
tell you. DO you remember the scratch
you discovered on the safe door2 You
thought that this scratch was made at
the time OF the theft. Now with what
was it made? Evidently with n key.
| That being the case, you should have
asked for the keys both Of the banker
and the cashier. One Of them would
have had some particles OF the hard
green paint sticking to it."
"Idiotw
"You have rightly named yourself"
| said NJ. Lecoq. This proof stares you
right III the face, and you don't see 1t!
| This scratch is the sole and only clew to
work the case upon, and you must go
and lose the traces Of it. If | find the
guilty party it will be by means of this
scratch: and / am determined that l will
| find him."
"You must have been working UP this
case, patron?'
Probably have, but | am not infalli-
Bile, and may have overlooked some Inn
| portant evidence Take seat, and tell
me oil you know"
M Lecoq was not the man to be hot
winked, SO Fanferlot told the exact truth
u rare thing for him to do.
ut seems to me, Master Squirrel, that
you have forgotten something. How far
did you follow the empty coach"
Fanferlot blushed, and hung his head
like a guilty schoolboy.
"Ohr' ne cried, land you know about
that, too! How could you have"
But sudden idea flashed across his
brain; he stopped short, bounded off his
chair, and cried: "Oh, l know now! You
were the stout gentleman with red whis-
kers." His surprise gave so singular an
expression to his face that NJ. Lecoq
could not restrain smile.
''Then," said Fanferlot, clinging to his
idea, "you have been more successful
than Madame Alexandra; YOU have made
the girl confess? You know why she
leaves the Archangel. and why she does
not wait for NJ. de Clameran."
"She is following my advice"
"Do you know who the thief is, pat
ron ?"
II know no more than you do, Fanfer-
lot. am certain OF but one thing, and
that is, that scratch was on the safe
door. We start from the scratch. see"
(ro be continuedl