M. Lenormand went up to him and, in his clearest voice:
"Listen to me," he said. "Mr. Kesselbach died murdered. . . . Come, be calm . . . exclamations are of no use. . . . He died murdered, I say, and all the circumstances of the crime prove that the culprit knew about the scheme in question. Was there anything in the nature of that scheme that would enable you to guess . . . ?"
Steinweg stood dumfounded. He stammered:
"It was my fault. . . . If I had not suggested the thing to him . . ."
Mrs. Kesselbach went up to him, entreating him:
"Do you think . . . have you any idea? . . . Oh, Steinweg, I implore you! . . ."
"I have no idea. . . . I have not reflected," he muttered. "I must have time to reflect. . . ."
"Cast about in Mr. Kesselbach's surroundings," said M. Lenormand. "Did nobody take part in your interviews at that time? Was there nobody in whom he himself could have confided?"
"No."
"Think well."