Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-03-19
CHAPTER II.
cO9UENIL's GREATEST CASE,


n FTER leaving Notre Dame
"a Paul COQuenl directed his
M steps toward the prefecture OF
S police, but halfway across the
square he glanced back at the church
clock that shows Its white face above
the grinning gargoyles. and. pausing
be stood moment IN deep thought
"A quarter 20 Z. he reflected: then.
turning 90 the right. he walked quick
~ 70 little wine shop with flowers
In the windOws the Tavern Of the
Three Wise Men
An. ] thought sor' be muttered as
be recognized his friend and assistant.
Papa Tignol. 8t ole OF the tables on
the terrace ADf approaching the old
man. who had red face and a purple
unged nose. be said IN a low tone. Il
want you"
TignOl looked Up quickly from his
glass, and his face lighted. Eth. NJ
Paul againT'
Il must see 81 PouEeot." continued
the detective. Its important Co TO
his Office. IL be isn't there 90 20 his
house. Anyhow. ind him and tell
him 20 come 20 me at once. Hurry on
III pay for this And run across TO
the church and tell BOnneton that be
needn't come either."
Il knew n. = knew it, chuchlcl
Papa Tignol as he trotted on. There's
something doing"
With this much arranged CoQuenn
after paying for his friends absinth
suolled over 20 a cab stand near the
statue OF Henry ". and selected n
horse that could not possibly make
more than four miles an hour. Be
hind this deliberate animal he seated
himself. and. giving the driver bis ad
dress. be charged hlEi gravely not 10
80 too fast and settled hack against
the cushions 90 comfortable medlta
tons There r. no better way 10
think out a tough problem" he used
TO insist. than 10 take a very long
drive In a very slow cab"
II may have been that this horse was
not slow enough. for forty minutes
later COQuenirs frOwn was stIl unre.
iaIed when they drew up az the villa
Montmorency. really a collection or
Villas. some dozens Of them. In pri
vRte park near the Bols de Boulogne
The detective occupied a wing ~
the original MOntmorency chateau. 4
habitatlOn Of ten spacious rooms. more
than enough for himself and his
mother and the faithful old servant
Aelanie. who took care OF them. esDe.
cially during these summer months
when Nine. COquenil was away nj a
country place IN the vosges mountains
thst her son had bought for her. Paul
CoQuenn had never married. and his
friends declared that. besides his work.
be loved only two things In the world
his mother and his dog.
At = o'clock the detective rose from
the dinner table and withdrew into
his study. large room opening OF the
dining room and furnished Ike no 9th
er study in the world Around the
walls were low bookcases With wide
tops, on which were spread, under
glass. what COqueniI called his GRIM
mai museum This included souvenirs
OF cases on which be had been en-
gagged, wonderful sets OF burglars
tools. weapons used by murderer
saws, picks, Jointed jimmies OF tenn
NN~sf NANA (t0l1 DN uDAlt
and folded Cp In the space OF q thick
cigar and hidden about the person.
Melanie entered presently with cof-
Zee and cigarettes, which she placed
on o table near the green shaded
lamp. within easy reach or the great
red leather chair where M Paul was
seated.
Suddenly there came a clang at the
Iron gate In the garden and the sound
OF quick. crunching steps on the gravel
walk. NJ. POugeot had arrived.
III. Lncien Pougeot was one OF the
eighty police commissaries who, each
In his own quarter. oversee the moral
washing OF Paris dirty linen. Nj
Pougeoi was one OF the most distin-
gzisSed and intelligent members OF
this Interesting body. He was a de-
voted friend OF Paul CoQuenil.
Well" remarked the commissary
when they were settled I'm their chairs.
Il suppose it's the Rio de Janeiro
thingp Some parting instructions. chr ,,
And he turned to light a cigar.
Coquenil shook his head
when do you sssl7y
I'm not sailing"
''What7"
For once IN his life M. Pougeot was
surprised. he knew all about this