chamber, reflecting on Plantat's sudden embarrassment, when he
had spoken of Robelot the bone-setter. The remarks of the judge
drew him from his revery; he got up, and said:

"There is another point; putting forward the time was perhaps
useful to Guespin, but it would greatly damage Bertaud, his
accomplice."

"But," answered M. Domini, "it might be that Bertaud was not
consulted. As to Guespin, he had no doubt good reasons for not
returning to the wedding. His restlessness, after such a deed,
would possibly have betrayed him."

M. Lecoq had not thought fit to speak as yet. Like a doctor at a
sick bedside, he wanted to be sure of his diagnosis. He had
returned to the mantel, and again pushed forward the hands of the
clock. It sounded, successively, half-past eleven, then twelve,
then half-past twelve, then one.

As he moved the hands, he kept muttering:

"Apprentices--chance brigands! You are malicious, parbleu, but
you don't think of everything. You give a push to the hands, but
don't remember to put the striking in harmony with them. Then
comes along a detective, an old rat who knows things, and the dodge
is discovered."

M. Domini and Plantat held their tongues. M. Lecoq walked up to
them.