“Then you were sent away from the hotel!” said Voisin.
“Yes, for I was suspected at once,” replied Croupin. “I had not taken the jewels one hour before they were missed. Then a waiter, whose girl had come to like me better than she liked him, reported to the manager that he had seen me in the corridor, and they did not think the explanation I gave for being there was good enough.” He laughed merrily. “I told them I had seen a rat run up the stairs, and had followed it to try and kill it. But they put me in a little room with two of the porters to guard me, and sent for the police. Then I was searched and questioned until my throat was hoarse and dry with answering. But they could find out nothing, and they had to let me go. Then I was sent away with no character.”
The barber regarded him
