"In the way of my quotation—a corpse. I started my quest two years ago—over a dead body, torn and mutilated. At the end of the first year I found another dead body, torn and mutilated. I follow on and on—from one point to the next point—often with no more than the instinct of the hunter to guide me. And here, at the end of the second year, there is yet another dead body, torn and mutilated. It is horrible. I sicken. I wish I had remained in my retirement."
"What were the two previous crimes?" the inspector asked.
"Two women—two very beautiful women."
Inspector Fay started, staring at him.
"Miss Manderson was a beautiful woman," he said slowly.
Monsieur Dupont's enormous head nodded several times.
"She was," he agreed deliberately. "The most beautiful of the three."
There was silence for a moment. Then the inspector laid a hand on the Frenchman's shoulder.
"We have worked together a good many times in the past," he said, with more cordiality than before.
"We have, indeed," Monsieur Dupont responded pleasantly.