inspector fay was occupied with the arrangement of the evidence to be presented at the inquest on the body of christine manderson. he disliked interruptions when at work, but the appearance of monsieur dupont banished his annoyance, and called forth a smile of complacent triumph.
"my friend," said monsieur dupont, "you know me well enough to be sure that i would not mislead you?"
there was that in the look of him that caused the smile to fade from the inspector's face.
"of course," he replied, laying down his papers.
"there is not a moment to lose. you must come with me."
"come with you?"
"now—immediately."
[pg 260]"but where?"
"wherever it may be necessary to go. i do not yet know myself. i only know that we must go."
"impossible," the inspector declared. "i must be ready for the inquest."
"if you do not come with me," monsieur dupont retorted, "you will not be ready for the inquest." he allowed his excitement to overflow. "why do you stand there?" he cried. "i tell you, there is not a moment to lose. cannot you see that i am serious? in all the years that you have known me i have never been more serious. come!"
"what for?" demanded the inspector sharply.
"to discover the truth of the death of christine manderson."
"the truth is discovered," returned the inspector, looking down at his papers.
"the truth is not discovered," said monsieur dupont.
"it is a perfectly clear case," the inspector retorted. "there cannot be the smallest doubt that layton killed her."
[pg 261]"layton did not kill her. at the beginning i warned you to ignore the obvious. but you did not. layton is no more guilty of the crime than you are."
"i am satisfied," the inspector said shortly.
"you must please yourself," said monsieur dupont. "i cannot wait. there are two lives to save—his and another. i came here to keep my word to you. i promised that if i succeeded in solving the mystery, i would hand the rest to you. i do not want credit from this affair. there is another meaning in it for me. i am ready to hand the rest to you, if you will come and take it. if you will not come—i must go on to the end myself. the choice is to you."
inspector fay looked at him steadily for a moment. then he turned back to his desk, and locked up his papers.
"i will come," he said.
