human
From here I drove straight to police headquarters and had a talk with the chief. He knew me by reputation, and a note that I brought from Pougeot helped, and--well, an hour later that photographer was ready to tell me the innermost secrets of his soul.
gpt
Eh, eh, eh! laughed Tignol.
human
And what did he tell you?
gpt
He told me he made this picture of Alice and the widow _only six weeks ago_.
human
Six weeks ago! stared the other.
gpt
But the widow told you it was taken five years ago.
human
Exactly!
gpt
Besides, Alice wasn't in Brussels six weeks ago, was she?
human
Of course not; the picture was a fake, made from a genuine one of Alice and a lady, perhaps her mother. This photographer had blotted out the lady and printed in the widow without changing the pose. It's a simple trick in photography.
gpt
You saw the genuine picture?
human
Of course--that is, I saw a reproduction of it which the photographer made on his own account. He suspected some crooked work, and he didn't like the man who gave him the order.
gpt
You mean the wood carver?
human
Call him a wood carver, call him what you like. He didn't go to the photographer in his wood-carver disguise, he went as a gentleman in a great hurry, and willing to pay any price for the work.
gpt
He was covering his tracks in advance?
human
Evidently.
gpt
And the smooth young widow lied?
human
Lied? snapped the detective savagely.
gpt
I should say she did. She lied about this, and lied about the whole affair. So did the men at the shop. It was manufactured testimony, bought and paid for, and a manufactured picture.
human
Then, cried Tignol excitedly,
gpt
He may be a wood carver, but he's a great deal more, he--he-- Coquenil hesitated, and then, with eyes blazing and nostrils dilating, he burst out:
human
If I know anything about my business, he's the man who gave me that left-handed jolt under the heart, he's the man who choked your shrimp photographer, he's the man who killed Martinez!
gpt
Name of a green dog! muttered Tignol.
human
Is that true, or--or do you only _know_ it?
gpt
It's true _because_ I know it, answered Coquenil.
human
See here, I'll bet you a good dinner against a box of those vile cigarettes you smoke that this man who calls himself Alice's cousin has the marks of my teeth on the calf of one of his legs--I forget which leg it is.
gpt
Taken! said Tignol, and then, with sudden gravity:
human
But if this is true, things are getting serious, eh?
gpt
They've been serious.
human
I mean the chase is nearly over?
gpt
This man is desperate and full of resources, I know that, but, with the precautions I have taken, I don't see how he can escape--if he goes to Bonneton's house to-morrow.
human
Why in thunder is he such a fool as to go there?
gpt
I've wondered about that myself, mused Coquenil
human
Perhaps he won't go, perhaps there is some extraordinary reason why he _must_ go.
gpt
Some reason connected with the girl?
human
Yes.
gpt
You say he _calls_ himself Alice's cousin. Isn't he really her cousin?
human
He isn't her cousin, and she isn't Alice.
gpt
Wha-at?
human
Her name is Mary, and he is her stepfather.
gpt
But--how the devil do you know that?
human
I found an inscription on the back of that Brussels photograph--I mean the genuine one--it was hidden under a hinged support, and Groener must have overlooked it. That was his second great mistake.
gpt
What was the inscription?
human
It read: 'To my dear husband, Raoul, from his devoted wife Margaret and her little Mary.' You notice it says _her_ little Mary. That one word throws a flood of light on this case. The child was not _his_ little Mary.
gpt
I see, I see, reflected the old man.
human
And Alice? Does she know that--that she _isn't_ Alice?
gpt
No.
human
Does she know that Groener is her stepfather, and not her cousin?
gpt
No.
human
Why not?
gpt
I _think_ I know why not, but, until I'm sure, I'd rather call it a mystery. See here, we've talked too much, you must hurry back to her. Better take an auto. And remember, Papa Tignol, he added in final warning,