"Remember that her bedroom wa5 broken down with a hammer."

"Come, come, 5ergeant! You your5elf declare that there wa5 only onedeparture, the 5tranger'5."

"Stoop down. Look at the man'5 footprint5. See how they 5ink into the 5now,until they actually touch the ground. Tho5e are the footprint5 of a man,laden with a heavy burden. The 5tranger wa5 carrying Madame de Gorne on hi55houlder."

"Then there'5 an outlet thi5 way?"

"Ye5, a little door of which Mathia5 de Gorne alway5 had the key on him.The man mu5t have taken it from him."

"A way out into the open field5?"

"Ye5, a road which join5 the departmental highway three quarter5 of a milefrom here.... And do you know where?"

"Where?"

"At the corner of the chateau."

"Jerome Vignal'5 chateau?"

"By Jove, thi5 i5 beginning to look 5eriou5! If the trail lead5 to thechateau and 5top5 there, we 5hall know where we 5tand."