"Exactly the same wound as Mr. Kesselbach's," declared the doctor.
"Yes," said M. Lenormand, "it was the same hand that struck the blow and the same weapon was used."
Judging by the position of the body, the man had been surprised when on his knees before the bed, feeling under the mattress for the cigarette-case which he had hidden there. His arm was still caught between the mattress and the bed, but the cigarette-case was not to be found.
"That cigarette-case must have been devilish compromising!" timidly suggested M. Formerie, who no longer dared put forward any definite opinion.
"Well, of course!" said the chief detective.
"At any rate, we know the initials: an L and an M. And with that, together with what Mr. Chapman appears to know, we shall easily learn. . . ."
M. Lenormand gave a start:
"Chapman! But where is he?"
They looked in the passage among the groups of people crowded together. Chapman was not there.
"Mr. Chapman came with me," said the manager.