The ground gave way beneath him: he was lying in the ruins.
Destiny had made a plaything of his efforts.
CHAPTER XXVI
THE ACCUSING WAISTCOAT
"As a matter of fact, Monsieur Juve, did not the celebrated Vidocq before he was a detective begin life as a murderer?"
Wulf, book in hand and comfortably installed in a large armchair, addressed the question to Juve, who answered in brief monosyllables, without turning his head:
"That's true, Monsieur Wulf."
"And don't you think that every detective at one time or another has a tendency toward crime, either as a thief or as an assassin?"