'31 March, 11 P.M.
What 's that you say ? '' `` Monsieur le Préfet , when I removed the chandelier from the plaster that supported it , I found , outside the upper surface of the metal box , a sealed envelope . As the chandelier was placed under the attic occupied by M. Fauville 's son , it is evident that M. Fauville was able , by lifting the boards of the floor in his son 's room , to reach the top of the machine which he had contrived . This was how , during that last night , he placed this sealed envelope in position , after writing on it the date of the murder , '31 March , 11 P.M. , ' and his signature , ` Hippolyte Fauville . ' '' M. Desmalions opened the envelope with an eager hand . His first glance at the pages of writing which it contained made him give a start . `` Oh , the villain , the villain ! ''