Part 40 (1/2)

”My husband came in at half-past-eight, monsieur, before the snow had begun to fall.”

The deputy struck the table with his fist:

”But, really, madame, you're going right against the evidence!... That sheet of snow cannot speak false!... I may accept your denial of matters that cannot be verified. But these footprints in the snow ... in the snow....”

He controlled himself.

The motor-car drew up outside the windows. Forming a sudden resolve, he said to Natalie:

”You will be good enough to hold yourself at the disposal of the authorities, madame, and to remain here, in the manor-house....”

And he made a sign to the sergeant to remove Jerome Vignal in the car.

The game was lost for the two lovers. Barely united, they had to separate and to fight, far away from each other, against the most grievous accusations.

Jerome took a step towards Natalie. They exchanged a long, sorrowful look.

Then he bowed to her and walked to the door, in the wake of the sergeant of gendarmes.

”Halt!” cried a voice. ”Sergeant, right about ... turn!... Jerome Vignal, stay where you are!”

The ruffled deputy raised his head, as did the other people present. The voice came from the ceiling. The bulls-eye window had opened and Renine, leaning through it, was waving his arms:

”I wish to be heard!... I have several remarks to make ... especially in respect of the zigzag footprints!... It all lies in that!... Mathias had not been drinking!...”

He had turned round and put his two legs through the opening, saying to Hortense, who tried to prevent him:

”Don't move.... No one will disturb you.”

And, releasing his hold, he dropped into the room.

The deputy appeared dumfounded:

”But, really, monsieur, who are you? Where do you come from?”

Renine brushed the dust from his clothes and replied:

”Excuse me, Mr. Deputy. I ought to have come the same way as everybody else. But I was in a hurry. Besides, if I had come in by the door instead of falling from the ceiling, my words would not have made the same impression.”

The infuriated deputy advanced to meet him:

”Who are you?”

”Prince Renine. I was with the sergeant this morning when he was pursuing his investigations, wasn't I, sergeant? Since then I have been hunting about for information. That's why, wis.h.i.+ng to be present at the hearing, I found a corner in a little private room....”

”You were there? You had the audacity?...”

”One must needs be audacious, when the truth's at stake. If I had not been there, I should not have discovered just the one little clue which I missed. I should not have known that Mathias de Gorne was not the least bit drunk. Now that's the key to the riddle. When we know that, we know the solution.”

The deputy found himself in a rather ridiculous position. Since he had failed to take the necessary precautions to ensure the secrecy of his enquiry, it was difficult for him to take any steps against this interloper. He growled: