was tall enough to extend the full length of the bed."

This demonstration was so clear, its proof so palpable, that it
could not be gainsaid.

"This is nothing," continued M. Lecoq. "Let us examine the second
mattress. When a person purposely disarranges a bed, he does not
think of the second mattress."

He lifted up the upper mattress, and observed that the covering of
the under one was perfectly even.

"H'm, the second mattress," muttered M. Lecoq, as if some memory
crossed his mind.

"It appears to be proved," observed the judge, "that Monsieur de
Tremorel had not gone to bed."

"Besides," added the doctor, "if he had been murdered in his bed,
his clothes would be lying here somewhere."

"Without considering," suggested M. Lecoq, "that some blood must
have been found on the sheets. Decidedly, these criminals were
not shrewd."

"What seems to me surprising," M. Plantat observed to the judge,
"is that anybody would succeed in killing, except in his sleep, a
young man so vigorous as Count Hector."

"And in a house full of weapons," added Dr. Gendron; "for the