Mme. Sauvresy seized the lamp, and interrupting Hector, said:
"Come."
Tremorel was right. Here and there on the vestibule pavement were little puddles.
"Perhaps this water has been here some time," suggested Bertha.
"No. It was not there an hour ago, I could swear. Besides, see, here is a little snow that has not melted yet."
"It must have been one of the servants."
Hector went to the door and examined it.
"I do not think so," said he. "A servant would have shut the bolts; here they are, drawn back. Yet I myself shut the door to-night, and distinctly recollect fastening the bolts."
"It's very strange!"
"And all the more so, look you, because the traces of the water do not go much beyond the drawing-room door."