"It becomes you well to talk in this manner, after the way you spoke last night, when I hesitated so much." "But, sir," cried the old detective, "I still say precisely the same.
Ah, wretched Tabaret! all is lost; no one understands you.

Pardon me, sir, if I lack the respect due to you; but you have not grasped my method.

It is, however, very simple.

Given a crime, with all the circumstances and details, I construct, bit by bit, a plan of accusation, which I do not guarantee until it is entire and perfect.

If a man is found to whom this plan applies exactly in every particular the author of the crime is found: otherwise, one has laid hands upon an innocent person.