ut there？ Call them back； the fools。 It's not in here any more； they're just wasting their time。〃
〃But the trees are quite thick in places； especially toward the center；〃 remonstrated the subordinate。 〃And this wall which pletely encloses it would act as an effective pen。 On the east side it's even higher than here and spiked with broken bottle glass
〃Haven't you eyes？ You were all here half an hour before I was。 Anyone can see that it got out again as it got in。〃
Manning turned toward him in time to see him； crouch down close to the gruesome litter； remove some indeterminate； blood…caked； boat…shaped object adhering to the remains themselves。 He straightened again； transferred it to a clean piece of white paper。 A tiny stem could now be seen to project from one end of it。 Even yet it was hard to tell what it was； without his word of explanation。 Its patina disguised it。
〃A leaf；〃 he rapped out； in the sudden attentive silence that had fallen。 〃This was originally a leaf。 One of God's green leaves； before it became encrusted with death matter。 There are dozens of them； clinging all over her； like feathers to a halfplucked fowl。 They don't fall this time of the year。 They were not on the ground originally。〃 His eyes flicked to the bough above。 〃They were shaken down upon her。 It dropped down upon her bodily； from up there； in a shower of leaves。 Her cries must have attracted it to her as it prowled the outside of the wall。 Then； the carnage perpetrated； it sprang up to the bough again； crossed over the top of the wall； and returned whence it had e。 Where are your eyes？ What were' you doing here while you were waiting for me？ A glass。〃 It was handed to him and he traced it along the contour of the trunk； at a distance close enough to obtain a clear focus。 〃Keep your heads out of the light； stand over on the side。 Now。 Do you see？ It is plain enough for you？ You detect the livid gashes on the bark from its claws？ They are deepest at the top； each one； they are full punctures there； tapering off to a mere shallow scratch at the bottom。 That means they were made by the beast going up。 Its claws dug in to obtain a hold； slipped slightly downward each time with its bodily weight； then were transferred to the next claw hold higher up； until it had reached the bough。 Even so； it probably made its ascent almost more quickly than the eye could follow…but the traces of it do not vanish so swiftly； fortunately。 Get them on your negatives。〃 And as he handed back the borrowed glass； he added disgustedly： 〃You should really be provided with alms bowls and sticks and sent to join the other blind on the benches around the Plaza Mayor。〃
Manning knew he was there only by sufferance； should have kept his mouth shut。 But he couldn't resist breaking in scathingly： 〃And in the face of that； you still think it's a jaguar？〃
Robles whirled on him。 〃What do you mean？〃
The American eyed him almost contemptuously。 〃A jungle animal； once in here； would turn its back on all this greenery； trees and plants and protective shubbery； all the very things its instinct leads it to seek； and deliberately return of its own choice to the stone and asphalt traps of the streets out there？ Ha！〃
One of the other operatives rushed to the defense of his superior； probably to regain his esteem； before Robles himself could answer。 〃There are traces left by bloodied paws on the outside of the wall； where it dropped down after the attack had been pleted。 We have already photographed them。〃
It was a telling blow； Manning's mouth opened； closed again； without his being able to utter a word。
〃And just for golpe de gracia； look at that；〃 Robles said crushingly。 He borrowed a small pair of forceps； stooped down swiftly over the mangled form a second time； fortunately keeping his back to all of them as he did so。 Manning couldn't see what it was he was using the forceps to extract； only the wrench of his elbow joint that acpanied the act。
He stood up again； turned； again bedded it on paper。 This time it looked like a small thorn； curved； and thicker at one end than the other。
〃And in the face of this； you still think it's not a jaguar？〃 he parodied tartly。 〃Hold that glass over it a minute； for seсor the know…it…all。〃
Manning peered down at it； magnified。 It was enlarged now to a miniature tusk； of hornlike substance； broken off short at the wide end。 〃What is it； a tooth？ A fang？〃
〃For anyone that knows so much about jaguars； you are not very good； you should study up on your zoology；〃 was Robles' merciless retort。 〃It is the tip of one of its claws； broken off short。 And left imbedded in her throat。〃
Manning couldn't answer for a minute； but he wouldn't give in； retract。 He drew his head away from the derisive proximity with which Robles was holding the nauseating token up to him； muttered disconcertedly： 〃It's against all the laws of nature for it to turn its back on here and go out there again。〃
Robles raised his voice overbearingly。 〃When the laws of nature conflict with indisputable evidence like this； the laws of nature go into the discard。 Who is to say what they are anyway… you？ I？ Are we animals ourselves？ Not enough is known about this species； in the first place； to lay down hard…and…fast rules of behavior for them。 They can be as unpredictable as human beings； for all we know。 Perhaps it is not the nature of jaguars to return to built…up streets。 This one did。 perhaps it has grown accustomed to its lair。 Perhaps it is the one exception to the rule。 But exception or not； it is still a jaguar！〃
The heretic properly and publicly shown the error of his ways； to the obvious satisfaction of all his men； he turned back to the business at hand。 〃Who is it keeps making that noise？〃 he inquired irritably。
〃 El novio；〃 someone murmured。
〃Have you questioned him yet？ Bring him over here。〃
The grief…crazed youth in the belted topcoat was hurried staggeringly forward between the two men who had been supporting him the whole time。
〃Raul Belmonte；〃 read off Robles' assistant。 〃Fourteen Calle San Vicente。 Cashier； Banco de ercio。〃
His face was pitiful。 A man shouldn't love too deeply； Manning thought； looking at it； it's better for him not to。 He's more defenseless than a woman； when it es to a thing like this； that he can't fight back against。
〃Are you able to talk； Belmonte？〃 Robles said curtly。 〃Give us your story。〃
His voice was dead； listless。
〃…I came out to telephone to her home to find out from this little servant girl who was backing us up whether she'd really started out at all。 To do so； I must have entered the very establishment she was in at the time with her paсera； it's the only place around there one can telephone from。 She must have been sitting hidden from me in a booth at the back。 My back must have been to her； in the telephone enclosure off to one side； and as she left； we neither of us saw one another！ Then； on finding the grounds locked； instead of leaving at once； I returned across the road a second time； to ease my disappointment with a cognac before driving off。 And when I finally emerged at last and got into my car； it seemed to me that far off somewhere I heard a faint cry…I remember that now。 But I thought it was my imagination； and I was too heavyhearted at not having seen her to care what it was。 What had it to do with me？〃
He was starting to shiver。 Robles made a sign and they led him away。 〃Lock him up for the time being；〃 the inspector said quietly as soon as he was out of hearing。
〃Surely you don't think…？〃 Manning expostulated。
〃Protective arrest；〃 Robles answered。 〃He is a danger to himself； until he has recovered somewhat。 It is written all over him。〃
Manning turned and moved slowly away from the hideous glare that continued to beat down on the mortal remains of Conchita Contreras。 They all glanced after him curiously； noticing the thoughtful way he held his head lowered and kicked at nothing along the ground； to show the personal dissatisfaction and lack of conviction he derived from this。
〃He's got an obsession； that man；〃 he heard Robles explaining scornfully to some of his cohorts without troubling to low