"We will begin at the beginning," he said briskly. "I have
telephoned to the Depot. Perrichet, the sergent-de-ville who
discovered the crime, will be here at once. We will walk down to
the villa with him, and on the way he shall tell us exactly what
he discovered and how he discovered it. At the villa we shall find
Monsieur Fleuriot, the Juge d'lnstruction, who has already begun
his examination, and the Commissaire of Police. In company with
them we will inspect the villa. Except for the removal of Mme.
Dauvray's body from the salon to her bedroom and the opening of
the windows, the house remains exactly as it was."

"We may come with you?" cried Harry Wethermill eagerly.

"Yes, on one condition--that you ask no questions, and answer none
unless I put them to you. Listen, watch, examine--but no
interruptions!"

Hanaud's manner had altogether changed. It was now authoritative
and alert. He turned to Ricardo.

"You will swear to what you saw in the garden and to the words you
heard?" he asked. "They are important."

"Yes," said Ricardo.

But he kept silence about that clear picture in his mind which to
him seemed no less important, no less suggestive.

The Assembly Hall at Leamington, a crowded audience chiefly of