forehead was prominent, his chin and cheeks clean shaven. His upper
lip, without moustache, was finely chiselled. His eyes were rather
small and round, with a look in them that was at once searching and
disquieting. He was of middle height and well built, with a general
bearing elegant and gentlemanly. There was nothing about him of
the vulgar policeman. In his way, he was an artist, and one felt
that he had a high opinion of himself. The sceptical tone of his
conversation was that of a man who had been taught by experience.
His strange profession had brought him into contact with so many
crimes and villanies that it would have been remarkable if his
nature had not been a little hardened.

Larsan turned his head at the sound of a vehicle which had come from
the chateau and reached the gate behind him. We recognised the cab
which had conveyed the examining magistrate and his Registrar from
the station at Epinay.

"Ah!" said Frederic Larsan, "if you want to speak with Monsieur
Robert Darzac, he is here."

The cab was already at the park gate and Robert Darzac was begging
Frederic Larsan to open it for him, explaining that he was pressed
for time to catch the next train leaving Epinay for Paris. Then he
recognised me. While Larsan was unlocking the gate, Monsieur Darzac
inquired what had brought me to the Glandier at such a tragic moment.
I noticed that he was frightfully pale, and that his face was lined
as if from the effects of some terrible suffering.

"Is Mademoiselle getting better?" I immediately asked.