Through the Wall

ice, but halfway across the square he glanced back at the church clock that shows its w

hop with flowers in the windows, the Tavern of the Three Wise Men, an interesting fragment of old-ti

Tignol at one of the tables on the terrace. And appro

om his glass, and his face

Go to his office. If he isn't there, go to his house. Anyhow, find

I take

thing, on

nt me at ni

his head. "Not

you were goi

run across to the church and tell B

ed Papa Tignol, as he trotted

' he said in

make more than four miles an hour. Behind this deliberate animal he seated himself, and giving the driver his address, he charged him gravely not to go too fast, and settled bac

vate park near the Bois de Boulogne, each villa a garden within a garden, and the whole surrounded by a great stone wall that shuts out noises and intrusions. They entered by a massive iron gateway on the Rue Poussin an

ld servant, Melanie, who took care of them, especially during these summer months, when Madame Coquenil was away at a country place in the Vosges Mountains that her

dly that her master scarcely touched anything, his eyes roving here and there among painted mountain scenes that covered the four walls above the brown-and-gold wainscoting, or

h he had been engaged, wonderful sets of burglars' tools, weapons used by murderers-saws, picks, jointed jimmies of tempered steel, that could be taken apart and folded up in the space of a thick cigar and hidden about the person. Also a remarkable collection of handcuffs from many countries and periods in history. Also a collection of

ction being freely drawn upon in French, English, and German, for, while Coquenil was a man of action in a big way, he was also a stud

leather chair where M. Paul was seated. Then she stole out noiselessly. It was five minutes past eight, and for an hour Coquenil thought and smok

attitude and costume of the painting of Whistler's mother in the Luxembourg gallery. M. Paul was proud of the striking resemblance between the two women. For some moments he stood before the fine, kindly face, and then he said aloud, as if speaking to her

, for he sees all sides of life in the great gay capital, especially the darker sides. He knows the sins of his fellow men and women, their follies and hypocrisies, he receives incredible confessions, he is constantly summoned to the scenes of revolting crime. Nothing,

xecutioner. As the two men stood together they presented absolutely opposite types: Coquenil, taller, younger, deep-eyed, spare of build, with a certain serious reserve very different from the commissary's outspoken directness. M.

their chairs, "I suppose it's the Rio Janeiro thing? Some

shook h

do you

ot sai

a-a

th its extraordinary money advantages; he had rejoiced in his friend's good fortune aft

on in the world who will know-everything. So listen! This afternoon I went into Notre-Dame church and I saw a young girl there who sells candles. I did

snorted the

about her, not even her name, but that's of no consequence; the point is that in this

t was th

re a man with a beard was talking to a woman and a little girl. Then

was Br

she sees it first in a distant star that comes nearer and nearer, until it gets to be large and red and angry. As the face comes closer her fear

ary did not speak. "Did she

N

he tell yo

t. Pougeot," he rose in agitation and stood leaning over his friend, "in that forest scene s

What i

rom the police force tw

cour

, it isn't true. I didn't

rds failed him, and finally he repeated wea

esign; I was

tective force for refusing to arrest a

wasn't

se of a poacher who killed a guard

ded himself on remembering everyth

the only way to get him was through his wife and child. They lived in a little house in the woods not far from the place of the s

!" exclaimed t

r and then come back as boarder. Nothing developed, but I could not

ur intuiti

rl. And the little girl went off with the basket into the forest. Then I knew I was right, and the next day I followed the little girl, and, sure enough, she led me to a rough cave wher

that girl saw

d his little girl. I don't know how you look at these things, Pougeot, but I couldn't break in there and take that man away from his wife and child. The woman

let the f

a week later in a fair fight, ma

ged you from

t services, they allowed me to r

wrong, but it was a slight offense, and, after all, you got your man. A reprimand

and then, as if not satisfied with this, he clasped the detective's

k it myself-until to-day. It seems like a stupid blunder, doesn't it? Well, it wasn't a blunder; it was a ne

game?" The com

olving a gr

e sure

ectly

he facts of

n't been co

her, with a startled glance. "But yo

re a great criminal, I don't mean the ordinary clever scoundrel who succeeds for a time and is finally caught, but a

in in Napol

big purpose, and he finally came to grief. There have been greater criminals than Vautrin, men whose crimes

really t

his bookcases; "but we haven't time for that. Come back to my question: Suppose you were such a criminal, and suppose there

to get ri

friend, he said with extraordinary earnestness: "Lucien, f

Pougeot. "How long

he detective. "I ought t

uilding a good de

nd my reason did the rest. There is a connection between this Rio Janeiro offer and my discharge from the force. I know it. I'll show you other links in the chain. Three times in the past two years I have rece

ne' was responsible for you

that time, was distressed at the order, he told

"You mean that Paris has a criminal able t

rnment? Do you think Rio Janeiro offered me a hundre

great de

hy should the police department discharge me two years ago and recomme

tache in puzzled meditation. "I

elf the commissa

life, and, better than anyone, he had reason

resumed uneasily, "you think

asked Coque

hesitated

Why? There can be only one reason-because I have been successful in unraveling int

re the most skillful detective in France; but you're off the

unusual a character that it must attract my attention if I am here. And if it attracts my attention as

adually under the spell of Coquenil's conviction. "An

Ah, you didn't know that? Yes, even now, at this very moment, I am supposed to be on the steamer

idening. "What!" he cried. "You m

arden window, followed by a resounding peal of thunder. T

takes, somebody who disposes of fortune and power and will stop at nothing, somebody who will certainly crush me unless I crush him. It will be a

ou've cast a spell over me. Come, c

the strange coincidences of this extraordinary case. On the silence of this room,

t is that?" Both men sat motionless, th

bout nine." And he put the receiver to his ear. "Yes, this is M. Pougeot.... What?... The Ansonia?... You say he's shot?... In a private dining room?... Dead?... Quel malheur!"... Then he gave quick orde

turning, white-faced, said to

must hurry." Then, flinging open a drawer in his desk: