know the house as well as I do," he said, and led the way towards
a niche in the side of the wall, which was partially filled by a
high bookcase.

"Ah--that is the entrance of the passage to the church?" asked
the magistrate in surprise.

"Yes, this is it. The door is not locked."

"You mean you believe--"

"That the murderers came in from the church? Why not? It is
quite possible."

"To think of such a thing!" exclaimed the notary with a shake of
his head.

The doctor laughed bitterly. "To those who are planning a murder,
a church is no more than any other place. There is a bolt here as
you see. I will close this bolt now. Then we can leave the room
knowing that no one can enter it without being seen."

The simple furniture of the study, a desk, a sofa, a couple of
chairs and several bookcases, gave no chance of any hiding place
either for the body of the victim or for the murderers. When the
men left the room the magistrate locked the door and put the key
in his own pocket. The gendarme in the neighbouring apartment was
sent down to stand in the courtyard at the entrance to the house.
The sexton, a little hunchback, was ordered to remain in the vestry
at the other end of the passage from the church to the house.