mouth agape in inprehension； poised to go on but forgetting to。 On the opposite sidewalk a street sweeper also stood looking on； resting on his broom of twigs。 Occasionally he would make a couple of passes with it； then stop and look on some more。 On a third…floor balcony on that same side a plump woman had e out to watch； but had brought her hairbrush with her and continued stroking her bong black glossy hair while she did so。 That was about all； the rest were all those whose business it was to be there。
Manning had not only not been informed this time； but could even tell he was somewhat persona non grata when he got out of the cab and joined them。 Robles glanced up； greeted him uncordially with： 〃You again？ We have work to do here。 Please； no more suggestions from the sidelines； if you don't mind！〃 And then he added； 〃What are you； a mind reader？ How did you know？〃
〃It's all over town already。 The milkman told the mozo that brings my morning coffee to me from across the street； and the mozo told me。 Who was it this time？〃
〃An habituй of the cafйs known as Clo…Clo A lady of the evening； poor creature。 Mendez here knew her。 Didn't you； Mendez？〃
Mendez dropped his eyelids disclaimingly。 〃Only in the line of duty。〃
Manning had caught sight of several small objects awaiting removal； which had been placed； meanwhile； on a sheet of newspaper spread out on top of an opened campstool。 〃Where does the lipstick e in？〃 he asked。
〃It was lying on the ground close beside her body。 It fell out of her handbag； I suppose； in the course of the death struggle。〃
Manning took a while。 Then finally he asked； 〃WThat else fell out？〃
〃Nothing else fell out。〃
〃Was the bag open or closed when it was found？〃
Robles was fair enough…and incautious enough…to hold one finger up for the benefit of those around him。 〃Ah。 He has made a good point there； the American。 The bag was still closed when we found it。 Therefore； it is true that the lipstick could not have fallen out； she must have removed it herself。〃 He waved his hand blandly。 〃However； it is just a detail； it has no bearing on the matter one way or the other。〃
〃Oh no； no bearing at all；〃 agreed Manning treacherously。 〃 Except to show that it was a man who waylaid her here on this corner。 She would not have rouged her lips for a quadruped； I believe？〃
Robles gave his arms a slight flip at his sides； said in an heroically restrained voice to those immediately around him； but excluding Manning as though he weren't there： 〃That again。 What did I do to deserve this hornet buzzing in my ears？ Mendez。 Gipriano。 Stand one on each side of him。 Each of you take an arm。 Yes； like that。 Now walk him over to that cab over there； put him in it； and see that it takes him back wherever it is he came from。〃
Robles wasn't kidding。 He was a little too white at the corners of the eyes and mouth to have been anything but serious。 It might have been； partly； the early hour of the day。
Neither； for that matter； was Manning。 〃Your theory must be pretty shaky；〃 he said witheringly； 〃if it can't stand a little honest difference of opinion。 What's the matter； afraid it'll fall down flat。 Take your hands off me。 This is a public street。 I'm entitled to stand here as long as I want。〃
It could very easily have been the starting point of actual ill…feeling； bad blood between them。 Fortunately； an interruption occurred just then which took everyone's mind off all lesser matters。
There was a great motion and fanfare at the curb； and the jefe de policia himself stepped down from a breath…taking Bugatti； one of the last to be imported before the war。 Everyone fell silent； drew himself up where he stood at stiff attention； as he approached surrounded by a small group of subordinates。
He was a short； wiry clerical…looking man； with an aggressive manner and a voluminous； resonant voice that must have been ideal for addressing large gatherings。 He cast only the briefest of glances at the vestiges remaining on wall and ground； concentrated on the men before him instead。 He stood there glittering balefully through his spectacles at them； like an infuriated；owl blinking in the sunlight。
〃You are in charge here； inspector？〃 he thundered after a dramatic pause。
〃 Si； excelencia；〃 Robles quailed in a small voice。
〃How many more times is this going to happen？ This fiend must be exterminated！ I want its carcass shown to me within the next twenty…four hours； is that clear？〃 He included the others； turning his head to take them in。 〃Is that clear to all of you？ The mayor and the ayuntamiento are showing concern； are having a reward posted to the general public； independent of your efforts。 It is a reflection on my department。 There is already a city…wide panic brewing。 The tourist season is about to begin。 This can do incalculable harm； people will avoid ing here！〃
He strode back to the Bugatti； delivered the postscript from there。 〃There should be nothing plicated about this matter！ If one animal has a better head on it than the best heads we have on the police force； then it is time there was a general reorganization； from head to foot！〃
Robles sat at his desk dismally scanning a specimen of one of the municipal council's new posters； fresh from the printer's。 It was so large it curled over the edge of the desk at both sides。 It was a vivid yellow； and dozens like it were going up on every advertisement kiosk； signboard； and vacant wall in town。
At the top； in beetling black betters； it had： AVISO AL PUBLICO。 Then numerous lines of fine print。 Then at last； toward the lower right…hand corner； again in heavier type： 1；000 REWARD。
Manning knew； by the very fact that he was being allowed to remain there in the office while gobles struggled with himself； that the batter intended eventually to give in。
〃I still say I do not agree with you；〃 Robles said； thumping the desk despairingly。 〃But when my official position； my job itself； is involved； I am forced to give any possibility a trial； even though it goes against my own beliefs。 I cannot afford to pass anything by。〃
〃Hold on a minute；〃 Manning said quickly。 〃I'm not making an accusation； you understand？ I haven't any proof against the man； none whatever。 There's only this one incriminating circumstance involved： I've been inquiring around； here； there； the next place； privately； on my own account； you understand； and I find he has been in the habit of ing in to the city on overnight visits。 Every now and then； every so often； at irregular intervals。〃
〃There is nothing criminal in that。 Hundreds of people e into the city every day and night； just as hundreds go out again。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 Manning said mildly。 〃Some have fixed days for it。 Every Saturday night； say。 Or every Sunday。 Or twice a week； regularly。 As the case may be。 Then there are others who e in haphazardly； as hedoes。 Just whenever the impulse hits them。 As you say； there is nothing particularly incriminating in either of those habitudes。〃
〃Well then？〃
〃Just idly； let me give you the three last haphazard dates on which he repaired to the city。 They are authentic； you can rely on them； I obtained them from various disinterested sources： bus drivers on the line that goes out that way； cantina…keepers； and the bike。 See if they interest you。〃
Robles looked down at the poster staring him in the face； kept tapping his fingers rotatingly on the edge of it； with a moody sort of thoughtfubness。
Manning took out a scrap envelope； scanned the back of it。 〃May the fourteenth…〃
Robles' eyes went up from the poster before him。
〃May the twenty…sixth…〃
Robles' head went up； as his neck stiffened。
〃June the eighth…〃
Robles' whole body went up； to a standing position before his desk chair。 Then leaning over； he brought the flat of his hand crashingly down on the desk； left it there for a long moment。
〃Teresa Delgado met death on the night of May fourteenth。 Conchita Contreras came to her end on the night of May twenty…sixth。 The girl nicknamed Clo…Clo was found at daybreak on June the ninth。〃 He glowered at the American。 〃Once； you would call a coincid