"Directly M. Dollon told me his story," the sergeant replied, "I thought it my duty to report to M. Juve, who I knew was not far from the château, on his way to Verrières: M. Juve told me last night that he meant to explore that part in the early morning. I left Morand on duty at the entrance to the château, with orders to prevent either of the Ramberts from leaving." "And Morand did not see them going away?" the magistrate asked. Juve had already divined what had happened, and replied for the sergeant. "Morand did not see them go out for the obvious reason that they had left long before--in the middle of the night, directly after their altercation: in a word, before Mlle. Thérèse woke up." He turned to the sergeant. "What has been done since then?" "Nothing, Inspector." "Well, sergeant," said Juve. "I imagine his worship will order you to send out your men at once after the runaways." As a matter of courtesy he glanced at the magistrate as if asking for his approval, but he only did so out of politeness, for he took it for granted. "Of course!" said the magistrate; "please do so at once." The sergeant turned on his heel and left the hall. "Where is Mlle. Thérèse?" M. de Presles asked Dollon, who was standing nervously apart. "She is sleeping quietly just now, sir," said the steward, coming forward. "The doctor is with her, and would rather she were not disturbed, if you have no objection." "Very well," said the magistrate. "Leave us, please," and Dollon also went away. Juve and M. de Presles looked at one another. The magistrate was the first to break the silence. "So it is finished?" he remarked. "So this Charles Rambert is the culprit?" Juve shook his head. "Charles Rambert? Well, he ought to be the culprit." "Why that reservation?" enquired the magistrate. "I say 'ought to be,' for all the circumstances point to that conclusion, and yet in my bones I don't believe he is." "Surely the presumptions of his guilt, his pseudo-confession, or at least his silence in face of his father's formal accusation, may make us sure he is," said M. de Presles. "There are some presumptions in favour of his innocence too," Juve replied, but with a slight hesitation. The magistrate pressed his point. "Your investigations formally demonstrated the fact that the crime was committed by some person who was inside the house." "Possibly," said Juve, "but not certainly. The probabilities do not allow us to assert it as a fact." "Explain yourself." "Not so fast, sir," Juve replied, and getting up he added: "There is nothing for us to do here, sir; shall we go up to the room Charles Rambert occupied?" M. de Presles followed the detective, and the two men went into the room, which was as plainly furnished as that of any young girl. The magistrate installed himself comfortably in an easy chair and lighted a cigar, while Juve walked up and down, scrutinising everything with quick, sharp glances, and began to talk: