CHAPTERIX
ReporterandDetectiveThethreeofuswentbacktowardsthepavilion。Atsomedistancefromthebuildingthereportermadeusstopand，pointingtoasmallclumpoftreestotherightofus，said：
\"That\'swherethemurderercamefromtogetintothepavilion。\"
Astherewereotherpatchesoftreesofthesamesortbetweenthegreatoaks，Iaskedwhythemurdererhadchosenthatone，ratherthananyoftheothers。Rouletabilleansweredmebypointingtothepathwhichranquiteclosetothethickettothedoorofthepavilion。
\"Thatpathisasyousee，toppedwithgravel，\"hesaid；\"themanmusthavepassedalongitgoingtothepavilion，sincenotracesofhisstepshavebeenfoundonthesoftground。Themandidn\'thavewings；hewalked；buthewalkedonthegravelwhichleftnoimpressionofhistread。Thegravelhas，infact，beentroddenbymanyotherfeet，sincethepathisthemostdirectwaybetweenthepavilionandthechateau。Astothethicket，madeofthesortofshrubsthatdon\'tflourishintheroughseason-laurelsandfuchsias-itofferedthemurdererasufficienthiding-placeuntilitwastimeforhimtomakehiswaytothepavilion。ItwaswhilehidinginthatclumpoftreesthathesawMonsieurandMademoiselleStangerson，andthenDaddyJacques，leavethepavilion。Gravelhasbeenspreadnearly，verynearly，uptothewindowsofthepavilion。