The detective reflected.

“There is one thing,” said he, “that I can’t explain.  Why was it that these two, who execrated each other, and whom the implacable will of their victim chained together despite themselves, did not separate of one accord the day after their marriage, when they had fulfilled the condition which had established their crime?”

The old justice of the peace shook his head.

“I see,” he answered, “that I have not yet made you understand Bertha’s resolute character.  Hector would have been delighted with a separation; his wife could not consent to it.  Ah, Sauvresy knew her well!  She saw her life ruined, a horrible remorse lacerated her; she must have a victim upon whom to expiate her errors and crimes; this victim was Hector.  Ravenous for her prey, she would not let him go for anything in the world.”

“I’ faith,” observed Dr. Gendron, “your Tremorel was a chicken-hearted wretch.  What had he to fear when Sauvresy’s manuscript was once destroyed?”

“Who told you it had been destroyed?” interrupted M. Plantat.

M. Lecoq at this stopped promenading up and down the room, and sat down opposite M. Plantat.

“The whole case lies there,” said he, “Whether these proofs have or have not been destroyed.”

M. Plantat did not choose to answer directly.

“Do you know,” asked he, “to whom Sauvresy confided them for keeping?”

“Ah,” cried the detective, as if a sudden idea had enlightened him, “it was you.”

He added to himself, “Now, my good man, I begin to see where all your information comes from.”

“Yes, it was I,” resumed M. Plantat.  “On the day of the marriage of Madame Sauvresy and Count Hector, in conformity with the last wishes of my dying friend, I went to Valfeuillu and asked to see Monsieur and Madame de Tremorel.  Although they were full of company, they received me at once in the little room on the ground-floor where Sauvresy was murdered.  They were both very pale and terribly troubled.  They evidently guessed the purpose of my visit, for they lost no time in admitting me to an interview.  After saluting them I addressed myself to Bertha, being enjoined to do so by the written instructions I had received; this was another instance of Sauvresy’s foresight.  ‘Madame,’ said I, ’I was charged by your late husband to hand to you, on the day of your second marriage, this package, which he confided to my care.’  She took the package, in which the bottle and the manuscript were enclosed, with a smiling, even joyous air, thanked me warmly, and went out.  The count’s expression instantly changed; he appeared very restless and agitated; he seemed to be on coals.  I saw well enough that he burned to rush after his wife, but dared not; I was going to retire; but he stopped me.  ‘Pardon me,’ said he, abruptly, ’you will permit me, will you not?  I will return immediately,’ with which he ran out.  When I saw him and his wife a few minutes afterward, they were both very red; their eyes had a strange expression and their voices trembled, as they accompanied me to the door.  They had certainly been having a violent altercation.”