"Nothing! nothing! I heard nothing. Who is this woman? I don"t know her!"
Fandor pointed to a small shoe lying in a corner.
"A fashionable woman," he said.
"Quite so," was Juve"s reply, and putting his hands on Chaleck"s shoulders he inquired: "A friend of yours, a mistress, eh? Come now, don"t deny it."
"Deny!" protested the doctor, "deny what? You are not accusing me, are you? I know nothing of what has taken place here, and, as you see, have been robbed into the bargain."
"Is she a patient of yours?"
"I don"t practise."
"A visitor, perhaps?"
"No one has been to see me to-day."
"It is not your maid?"
"No; I tell you. I am living here all by myself."
"Have you noticed this, sir?" put in Michel, as he gave Juve a handkerchief on which some vicious, greyish substance was spread in thick layers.
"Shoemakers" wax," Juve explained, after a brief glance at it. "That explains the burns we noticed. The murderer covered his victim"s face with the handkerchief to prevent identification." Then, turning to Fandor, he went on in a low tone:
"But it doesn"t explain how and when the crime was committed. Less than an hour ago we were in this very room, and the burgling of the safe alone would take fully an hour."
Michel, ignorant of this fact, was for arresting the doctor.
"Look here," he said sharply to Chaleck, "we"ve had enough yarns from you; now tell us the truth."
"But, good G.o.d! I have told you the truth!" cried Chaleck.
"And you heard nothing, although you were only a few yards away?"
"Nothing at all. I sat up working very late last night. When I went to bed, nothing had happened in the least suspicious. Oh, by the way, toward morning I did hear a slight noise. I rose and went over the house, even coming into this room. I found everything in order."
"That"s a likely tale!"
"Here"s a proof of what I say! When I returned to this study I used that candle and sealing wax to seal my letter, which, as you can see, is still here. Your ring at the bell awoke me not more than twenty minutes later, just as I was getting to sleep again."
"Lies!" cried Michel, turning to Juve. "Shall I arrest him?"
"The doctor is telling the truth," replied Juve, half regretfully.
Chaleck seemed very much relieved.
"Oh, you"ll help me, won"t you? Get me out of this abominable affair!"
As a matter of fact, Chaleck had accounted for his time with exact truthfulness.
Juve crossed the room and drew aside the curtains; upon the floor he pointed out to Fandor traces of mud. It was there that he and the journalist had stood.
"Doctor," said Juve at length, "I must ask you not to go out this morning. I am going to headquarters to ask them to send experts in anthropometry. We must photograph in detail the appearance of your study; then I will come back and make an extended inquiry and I shall want you. Michel, remain here with the doctor."
Without further words, Juve, followed by Fandor, left the house of mystery, jumped into the first cab that pa.s.sed and, mopping his forehead, cried:
"It"s astounding! This murder presents mysteries worthy of Fantomas himself!"
V
LOUPART"S ANGER
Loupart was taking a fruit cure. It was about ten in the morning, and along the Rues Charbonniere, Chartres and Goutte d"Or the women hawkers, driven from central Paris by the police, were making for the high ground of the populous quarters.
Loupart strolled along the pavement, making grabs at the barrows, picking a handful of strawberries or cherries as he went by. If by chance the dealer complained, she was quickly silenced by a chaffing speech or a stern glance.
The hooligan stopped at the "Comrades" Tryst," in front of which Mother Toulouche had set out a table with a large basket of winkles.
"Want to try them?" suggested the old woman on catching sight of Josephine"s lover.
"Hand me a pin," he answered harshly, and in a few moments had emptied half a dozen sh.e.l.ls.
"Friend Square, I"ve something to say to you."
"Out with it, then."
But before the old woman could reply, a noise of roller skates coming down the pavement made her turn.
Loupart looked round with a smile.
"Why here comes the auto-bus," he cried.
A cripple moving at a great pace came plump into the basket of sh.e.l.l-fish. The speed with which he travelled had earned him the nickname of the Motor. He was said to be an old railway mechanic, who had lost both legs in an accident.
"Motor," cried Mother Toulouche, "I have to be away for ten minutes or so; look after my basket, will you?"
Following the old dame to her den Loupart entered with difficulty, on account of the great quant.i.ty of heterogeneous objects with which it was crowded. The product of innumerable thefts lay heaped up pell-mell in this illicit bazaar.
Dame Toulouche, having shut the door, plunged into her subject.
"Big Ernestine is furious with you, Loupart."
"If she"s threatening me," the hooligan replied, "I"ll soon fix her."