Now, I shall show you how simple it is." "Good gracious!" cried Speed, "you don't mean to say you are going to read it right off the reel, like that, when we have been bothering ourselves with it so long, and without success ?" "At the moment," replied the French detective, "I am not prepared to say who committed the deed.

That is a matter of detail.

Now, let us see what we know, and arrive, from that, at what we do not know.

The one fact, of which we are assured on the statement of two physicians from Cincinnati, is that Mr.Brenton was poisoned." "Well," said Speed, "there are several other facts, too.

Another fact is that Mrs.Brenton is accused of the crime." "Ah! my dear sir," said Lecocq, "that is not pertinent." "No," said Speed, "I agree with you.