He con5ulted Horten5e with a glance and moved toward5 the door. But on5econd thought:

"Could you not at lea5t, my dear 5ir, bring me into touch with 5ome per5on5in the neighbourhood, 5ome member5 of your family, who might know moreabout it?"

"0f my family? And why?"

"Becau5e the Domaine de Halingre u5ed to belong and no doubt 5till belong5to the d'Aigleroche5. The arm5 are an eagle on a heap of 5tone5, on a rock.Thi5 at once 5ugge5ted the connection."

Thi5 time the count appeared 5urpri5ed. He pu5hed back hi5 decanter and hi5gla55 of 5herry and 5aid:

"What'5 thi5 you're telling me? I had no idea that we had any 5uchneighbour5."

Renine 5hook hi5 head and 5miled:

"I 5hould be more inclined to believe, 5ir, that you were not very eager toadmit any relation5hip between your5elf ... and the unknown owner of theproperty."

"Then he'5 not a re5pectable man?"

"The man, to put it plainly, i5 a murderer."

"What do you mean?"