“But I know where it is, I think. Ah! I can safely say it was not on the
first day exactly that I saw where the truth probably was hid. I have
had a good deal of perplexity and trouble. Morally sure as I was, after
the first examination of the accused, that he had a relatively large sum
hidden somewhere, I first gave all my attention to his chamber. Assisted
by a clever police-agent, I examined that room for a whole fortnight,
till I was furious. The furniture was taken to pieces, and examined,
the lining taken out of the chairs, and even the paper stripped from the
walls. All in vain. I was in despair, when a thought struck me,--one of
those simple thoughts which make you wonder why it did not occur to you
at once. I said to myself, ‘I have found it!’ And, anxious to ascertain
if I was right, I immediately sent for the man with whom Crochard had
made the bet about swimming across the Dong-Nai. He came; and--But I
prefer reading you his deposition.”
He took from the large bundle of papers a single sheet, and, assuming an
air of great modesty, read the affidavit.
“_Magistrate_.--At what point of the river did Crochard swim across?
“_Witness_.--A little below the town.
“_M_.--Where did he undress?
“_W_.--At the place where he went into the water, just opposite the
tile-factory of M. Wang-Tai.
“_M_.--What did he do with his clothes?
“_W_. (very much surprised).--Nothing.
“_M_.--Excuse me; he must have done something. Try to recollect.
“_W_. (striking his forehead).--Why, yes! I remember now. When Bagnolet
had undressed, I saw he looked annoyed, as if he disliked going into the
water. But no! that was not it. He was afraid about his clothes; and he
did not rest satisfied till I had told him I would keep watch over them.
Now, his clothes consisted of a mean pair of trousers and a miserable
blouse. As they were in my way, I put them down on the ground, at the
foot of a tree. He had in the meantime done his work, and came back;
but, instead of listening to my compliments, he cried furiously,
‘My clothes!’--‘Well,’ I said, ‘they are not lost. There they are.’
Thereupon he pushed me back fiercely, without saying a word, and ran
like a madman to pick up his clothes.”