Chapter VII.

The Mysterious Madame Dubriel As we retraced our steps to the house,

Monsieur Bex excused himself for leaving us, explaining that he must immediately acquaint

the examining magistrate with the fact of Jeroves' arrival.

Jero himself had been obviously delighted when Pauro declared that he had seen all he wanted.

The last thing we observed, as we left the spot, was Jero crawling about on all fours,

with a thoroughness in his search that I could not but admire.

Pauro, guess my thoughts, for as soon as we were alone he remarked ironically.

At last you have seen the detective you admire, the human fox-hound, is it not so, my friend?

At any rate he's doing something, I said, with esparity.

If there's anything to find, he'll find it.

Now you.

Ah, yeah, I also found something, a piece of lead piping.

Nonsense, Pauro.

You know very well that's got nothing to do with it.

I meant little things, traces that may lead us to the murderers.

Monami, a clue of two feet long, is every bit as valuable as one measuring two millimeters.

But it is the romantic idea that all important clues must be infinitesimal.

As to the piece of lead piping, having nothing to do with the crime, you say that, because

Jero told you so.

No, as I was about to interpose a question, we will say no more.

Leave Jero to a search, and me, to my ideas.

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