This was a
grave, smooth-faced individual in the attire of a notary.
"Monsieur Otto, Monseigneur's first valet de chambre," the Suisse
murmured in Lecoq's ear.
This important personage came on behalf of Monsieur le Duc (he did not
say "Monseigneur") to inquire the meaning of all this uproar. When he
had received an explanation, M. Otto condescended to compliment Lecoq on
his efficiency, and to recommend that the house should be searched
from garret to cellar. These precautions alone would allay the fears of
Madame la Duchesse.
He then departed, and the search began again with renewed ardor. A
mouse concealed in the gardens of the Hotel de Sairmeuse could not
have escaped discovery, so minute were the investigations. Not a single
object of any size was left undisturbed. The trees were examined leaf
by leaf, one might almost say. Occasionally the discouraged servants
proposed to abandon the search; but Lecoq urged them on. He ran from
one to the other, entreating and threatening by turns, swearing that
he asked only one more effort, and that this effort would assuredly be
crowned with success. Vain promises! The fugitive could not be found.
The evidence was now conclusive. To persist in searching the garden
any longer would be worse than folly. Accordingly, the young detective
decided to recall his auxiliaries. "That's enough," he said, in a
despondent voice. "It is now certain that the criminal is no longer in
the garden."
Was he cowering in some corner of the great house, white with fear,
and trembling at the noise made by his pursuers? One might reasonably
suppose this to be the case; and such was the opinion of the servants.
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