When he had finished, he said:
"Here it is, and may you succeed in speedily finding this great criminal."
"Oh, he'll find him," cried the Corbeil policeman.
"I hope so, at least. As to how I shall go to work, I don't know yet. I will arrange my plan of battle to-night."
The detective then took leave of M. Domini and retired, followed by M.
Plantat. The doctor remained with the judge to make arrangements for
Sauvresy's exhumation.
M. Lecoq was just leaving the court-house when he felt himself pulled by the arm. He turned and found that it was Goulard who came to beg his favor and to ask him to take him along, persuaded that after having served under so great a captain he must inevitably become a famous man himself. M. Lecoq had some difficulty in getting rid of him; but he at length found himself alone in the street with the old justice of the peace.
"It is late," said the latter. "Would it be agreeable to you to partake of another modest dinner with me, and accept my cordial hospitality?"
"I am chagrined to be obliged to refuse you," replied M. Lecoq. "But I ought to be in Paris this evening."
"But I—in fact, I—was very anxious to talk to you—about—"
"About Mademoiselle Laurence?"