第38章

THE PROFILE OF NAPOLEON

Soon as the prefect of police, the chief of the criminal-investigation department and the examining-magistrates had left Daubrecq's house, after a preliminary and entirely fruitless inquiry, Prasville resumed his personal search.

He was examining the study and the traces of the struggle which had taken place there, when the portress brought him a visiting-card, with a few words in pencil scribbled upon it.

"Show the lady in," he said.

"The lady has some one with her," said the portress.

"Oh? Well, show the other person in as well."Clarisse Mergy entered at once and introduced the gentleman with her, a gentleman in a black frock-coat, which was too tight for him and which looked as though it had not been brushed for ages.He was shy in his manner and seemed greatly embarrassed how to dispose of his old, rusty top-hat, his gingham umbrella, his one and only glove and his body generally.

"M.Nicole," said Clarisse, "a private teacher, who is acting as tutor to my little Jacques.M.Nicole has been of the greatest help to me with his advice during the past year.He worked out the whole story of the crystal stopper.I should like him, as well as myself - if you see no objection to telling me - to know the details of this kidnapping business, which alarms me and upsets my plans; yours too, I expect?"Prasville had every confidence in Clarisse Mergy.He knew her relentless hatred of Daubrecq and appreciated the assistance which she had rendered in the case.He therefore made no dilficulties about telling her what he knew, thanks to certain clues and especially to the evidence of the portress.

For that matter, the thing was exceedingly simple.Daubrecq, who had attended the trial of Gilbert and Vaucheray as a witness and who was seen in court during the speeches, returned home at six o'clock.The portress affirmed that he came in alone and that there was nobody in the house at the time.Nevertheless, a few minutes later, she heard shouts, followed by the sound of a struggle and two pistol-shots; and from her lodge she saw four masked men scuttle down the front steps, carrying Daubrecq the deputy, and hurry toward the gate.They opened the gate.

At the same moment, a motor-car arrived outside the house.The four men bundled themselves into it; and the motor-car, which had hardly had time to stop, set off at full speed.

"Were there not always two policemen on duty?" asked Clarisse.

"They were there," said Prasville, "but at a hundred and fifty yards'

distance; and Daubrecq was carried off so quickly that they were unable to interfere, although they hastened up as fast as they could.""And did they discover nothing, find nothing?""Nothing, or hardly anything...Merely this.""What is that?"

"A little piece of ivory, which they picked up on the ground.There was a fifth party in the car; and the portress saw him get down while the others were hoisting Daubrecq in.As he was stepping back into the car, he dropped something and picked it up again at once.But the thing, whatever it was, must have been broken on the pavement; for this is the bit of ivory which my men found.""But how did the four men manage to enter the house?" asked Clarisse.

"By means of false keys, evidently, while the portress was doing her shopping, in the course of the afternoon; and they had no difficulty in secreting themselves, as Daubrecq keeps no other servants.I have every reason to believe that they hid in the room next door, which is the dining-room, and afterward attacked Daubrecq here, in the study.

The disturbance of the furniture and other articles proves how violent the struggle was.We found a large-bore revolver, belonging to Daubrecq, on the carpet.One of the bullets had smashed the glass over the mantel-piece, as you see."Clarisse turned to her companion for him to express an opinion.But M.

Nicole, with his eyes obstinately lowered, had not budged from his chair and sat fumbling at the rim of his hat, as though he had not yet found a proper place for it.

Prasville gave a smile.It was evident that he did not look upon Clarisse's adviser as a man of first-rate intelligence:

"The case is somewhat puzzling, monsieur," he said, "is it not?""Yes...yes," M.Nicole confessed, "most puzzling.""Then you have no little theory of your own upon the matter?""Well, monsieur le secretaire-general, I'm thinking that Daubrecq has many enemies.

"Ah, capital!"

"And that several of those enemies, who are interested in his disappearance, must have banded themselves against him.

"Capital, capital!" said Prasville, with satirical approval."Capital!

Everything is becoming clear as daylight.It only remains for you to furnish us with a little suggestion that will enable us to turn our search in the right direction.""Don't you think, monsieur le secretaire-general, that this broken bit of ivory which was picked up on the ground...""No, M.Nicole, no.That bit of ivory belongs to something which we do not know and which its owner will at once make it his business to conceal.In order to trace the owner, we should at least be able to define the nature of the thing itself."M.Nicole reflected and then began:

"Monsieur le secretaire-general, when Napoleon I fell from power...""Oh, M.Nicole, oh, a lesson in French history!""Only a sentence, monsieur le secretaire-general, just one sentence which I will ask your leave to complete.When Napoleon I fell from power, the Restoration placed a certain number of officers on half-pay.These officers were suspected by the authorities and kept under observation by the police.They remained faithful to the emperor's memory; and they contrived to reproduce the features of their idol on all sorts of objects of everyday use; snuff-boxes, rings, breast-pins, pen-knives and so on.""Well?"