Thedoorwasbrokenopen。anditmaybeobserved，inpassing，thatthelockwasdearindeedatwhatIpaidforit：acrowtopluckwithMasterGoguelat。Second，hereistheinstrumentemployed，oneofourowntable-knives，oneofourbest，mydear。whichseemstoindicatenopreparationonthepartofthegang-ifgangitwas。
Thirdly，IobservethatnothinghasbeenremovedexcepttheFrancharddishesandthecasket。ourownsilverhasbeenminutelyrespected。Thisiswily。itshowsintelligence，aknowledgeofthecode，adesiretoavoidlegalconsequences。Iarguefromthisfactthatthegangnumberspersonsofrespectability-outward，ofcourse，andmerelyoutward，astherobberyproves。ButIargue，second，thatwemusthavebeenobservedatFrancharditselfbysomeoccultobserver，anddoggedthroughoutthedaywithaskillandpatiencethatIventuretoqualifyasconsummate。Noordinaryman，nooccasionalcriminal，wouldhaveshownhimselfcapableofthiscombination。Wehaveinourneighbourhood，itisfarfromimprobable，aretiredbanditofthehighestorderofintelligence。’
’Goodheaven！’criedthehorrifiedAnastasie。’Henri，howcanyou？’
’Mycherishedone，thisisaprocessofinduction，’saidtheDoctor。’Ifanyofmystepsareunsound，correctme。Youaresilent？Thendonot，Ibeseechyou，besovulgarlyillogicalastorevoltfrommyconclusion。Wehavenowarrived，’heresumed，’atsomeideaofthecompositionofthegang-forIinclinetothehypothesisofmorethanone-andwenowleavethisroom，whichcandisclosenomore，andturnourattentiontothecourtandgarden。
Jean-Marie，Itrustyouareobservantlyfollowingmyvarioussteps。thisisanexcellentpieceofeducationforyou。Comewithmetothedoor。Nostepsonthecourt。itisunfortunateourcourtshouldbepaved。Onwhatsmallmattershangthedestinyofthesedelicateinvestigations！Hey！Whathavewehere？Ihaveledontotheveryspot，’hesaid，standinggrandlybackwardandindicatingthegreengate。’Anescalade，asyoucannowseeforyourselves，hastakenplace。’