The appearance of this man corresponded exactly with the description
given of him by the porters at Chatou, and by the gatekeeper at the
bridge.
Finally, the old man thought he was on the track of some one who entered
the same carriage as the breathless passenger. He had been told of a
baker living at Asnieres, and he had written to him, asking him to call
at his house.
Such was old Tabaret's information, when on the Monday morning he called
at the Palais de Justice, in order to find out if the record of Widow
Lerouge's past life had been received. He found that nothing had
arrived, but in the passage he met Gevrol and his man.
The chief of detectives was triumphant, and showed it too. As soon as
he saw Tabaret, he called out, "Well, my illustrious mare's-nest hunter,
what news? Have you had any more scoundrels guillotined since the other
day? Ah, you old rogue, you want to oust me from my place I can see!"
The old man was sadly changed.
The consciousness of his mistake made him humble and meek. These
pleasantries, which a few days before would have made him angry, now
did not touch him. Instead of retaliating, he bowed his head in such a
penitent manner that Gevrol was astonished.
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