Page 18 (1/2)

"Yes, yes Quite so," said Hanaud "Go on, aped black," Perrichet resumed "I

crept up to theat the side of the wall and dashed my

lantern into the room The ever, was in a recess which

opened into the rooh an arch, and at each side of the arch

curtains were draped The curtains were not closed, but between

the but a strip of the roo heed not to walk on the patch of grass before

theThe light of my lantern showed ht, below the ht-hand side wall, a wo huddled upon

the floor It was Mme Dauvray She was dressed There was a

little h she had walked after the rain

had ceased Monsieur will re between six and eight"

"Yes," said Hanaud, nodding his approval

"She was quite dead Her face was terribly swollen and black, and

a piece of thin strong cord was knotted so tightly about her neck

and had sunk so deeply into her flesh that at first I did not see

it For Mme Dauvray was stout"

"Then what did you do?" asked Hanaud