"All this diverted suspicion from him ... the more so as I believe that he himself was exposed to criminal attacks. But was there not in the family some person who would be interested in their removal? My journey to Paris revealed the truth to me: Mlle. Darcieux inherits a large fortune from her mother, of which her step-father draws the income. The solicitor was to have called a meeting of the family in Paris next month. The truth would have been out. It meant ruin to M. Darcieux." "Then he had put no money by?" "Yes, but he had lost a great deal as the result of unfortunate speculations." "But, after all, Jeanne would not have taken the management of her fortune out of his hands!" "There is one detail which you do not know, doctor, and which I learnt from reading the torn letter. Mlle. Darcieux is in love with the brother of Marceline, her Versailles friend; M. Darcieux was opposed to the marriage; and--you now see the reason--she was waiting until she came of age to be married." "You're right," said the doctor, "you're right.... It meant his ruin." "His absolute ruin. One chance of saving himself remained, the death of his step-daughter, of whom he is the next heir." "Certainly, but on condition that no one suspected him." "Of course; and that is why he contrived the series of accidents, so that the death might appear to be due to misadventure. And that is why I, on my side, wishing to bring things to a head, asked you to tell him of Mlle. Darcieux's impending departure. From that moment, it was no longer enough for the would-be sick man to wander about the grounds and the passages, in the dark, and execute some leisurely thought-out plan. No, he had to act, to act at once, without preparation, violently, dagger in hand. I had no doubt that he would decide to do it. And he did." "Then he had no suspicions?" "Of me, yes. He felt that I would return to-night, and he kept a watch at the place where I had already climbed the wall." "Well?" "Well," said Lupin, laughing, "I received a bullet full in the chest ... or rather my pocket-book received a bullet.... Here, you can see the hole.... So I tumbled from the tree, like a dead man. Thinking that he was rid of his only adversary, he went back to the house. I saw him prowl about for two hours. Then, making up his mind, he went to the coach-house, took a ladder and set it against the window. I had only to follow him." The doctor reflected and said: "You could have collared him earlier. Why did you let him come up? It was a sore trial for Jeanne ... and unnecessary." "On the contrary, it was indispensable! Mlle. Darcieux would never have accepted the truth. It was essential that she should see the murderer's very face. You must tell her all the circumstances when she wakes. She will soon be well again." "But ... M. Darcieux?"