And those at the back stood up, with much noise, to see.
The men at the table looked at these scraps of possible evidence with interest, as they were placed before them.
"Where did you find these things ?" "Between Plaisance and the Coupee." "What do you make of them ?" "Seemed to me those red spots might be blood.

The other's a button torn off some one's coat." "Have you any idea whose blood and whose coat ?" "The blood I don't know.

The button, I believe, is off Mr.Gard's coat,"-- at which another growl and hum went round.
"And you know nothing more about the matter ?" "That's all I know." "Very well.

Sit down.

Mr.Gard!" and Gard pushed his way among unyielding legs and shoulders, and stood before the grave-faced men at the table.
They all knew him and had all come to esteem what they knew of him.