M. Formerie assumed an air of slyness:
"And how was it that you did not follow that useful example?"
"I tried to follow it. But the outlet was blocked by a door which I could not open. It was during this attempt that 'the other one' came back to the room and killed his accomplice for fear of the revelations which he would have been sure to make. At the same time, he hid in a cupboard, where it was subsequently found, the parcel of clothes which I had prepared."
"What were those clothes for?"
"To disguise myself. When I went to the Glycines my plan was this: to hand Altenheim over to the police, to suppress my own identity as Prince Sernine and to reappear under the features. . . ."
"Of M. Lenormand, I suppose?"
"Exactly."
"No."
"What!"
M. Formerie gave a knowing smile and wagged his forefinger from left to right and right to left: