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"That was just before I came," said Hanaud He crossed carelessly

to the open hich overlooked the road and, leaning out of

it, looked up the road to the corner round which he and his

friends had come, precisely as the Commissaire had done Then he

turned back into the room

"Which was the last cupboard or drawer that Helene Vauquier

touched?" he asked

"This one"

Besnard stooped and pulled open the bottom drawer of a chest which

stood in the e at the bottom

"I told her to be quick," said Besnard, "since I had seen that you

were co was

there So I took her back to her rooht dress from the drawer, shook it out in

front of the irled it round, snatched up a corner of it

and held it to his eyes, and then, folding it quickly, replaced it

in the drawer

"No me the first drawer she touched" And this ti it to the , exareater care When he had finished with it he handed it to

Ricardo to put away, and stood for a htful and

absorbed Ricardo in his turn exa unusual It was an attractive petticoat, dainty with

frills and lace, but it was hardly a thing to grow thoughtful