however,
had
been
manifestly
enjoying
the
whole
scene
.
"
Indeed
,
yes
.
It
is
not
necessary
,
I
assure
you
,
"
added
the
Countess
,
with
tears
of
gratitude
in
her
big
brown
eyes
.
"
I
am
most
touched
,
most
thankful
.
You
are
a
true
soldier
,
a
true
English
gentleman
,
and
I
shall
never
forget
your
kindness
.
"
Then
she
put
her
hand
in
his
with
a
pretty
,
winning
gesture
that
was
reward
enough
for
any
man
.
Meanwhile
,
the
Judge
,
the
senior
official
present
,
had
learned
exactly
what
had
happened
,
and
he
now
addressed
the
General
with
a
calm
but
stern
rebuke
.
"
Monsieur
will
not
,
I
trust
,
oblige
us
to
put
in
force
the
full
power
of
the
law
.
I
might
,
if
I
chose
,
and
as
I
am
fully
entitled
,
commit
you
at
once
to
Mazas
,
to
keep
you
in
solitary
confinement
.
Your
conduct
has
been
deplorable
,
well
calculated
to
traverse
and
impede
justice
.
But
I
am
willing
to
believe
that
you
were
led
away
,
not
unnaturally
,
as
a
gallant
gentleman
,
—
it
is
the
characteristic
of
your
nation
,
of
your
cloth
,
—
and
that
on
more
mature
consideration
you
will
acknowledge
and
not
repeat
your
error
.
"
M
.
Beaumont
le
Hardi
was
a
grave
,
florid
,
soft-voiced
person
,
with
a
bald
head
and
a
comfortably-lined
white
waistcoat
;
one
who
sought
his
ends
by
persuasion
,
not
force
,
but
who
had
the
instincts
of
a
gentleman
,
and
little
sympathy
with
the
peremptory
methods
of
his
more
inflammable
colleague
.
"
Oh
,
with
all
my
heart
,
monsieur
,
"
said
Sir
Charles
,
cordially
.
"
You
saw
,
or
at
least
know
,
how
this
has
occurred
.
I
did
not
begin
it
,
nor
was
I
the
most
to
blame
.
But
I
was
in
the
wrong
,
I
admit
.
What
do
you
wish
me
to
do
now
?
"
"
Give
me
your
promise
to
abide
by
our
rules
,
—
they
may
be
irksome
,
but
we
think
them
necessary
,
—
and
hold
no
further
converse
with
your
companions
.
"
"
Certainly
,
certainly
,
monsieur
,
—
at
least
after
I
have
said
one
word
more
to
Madame
la
Comtesse
.
"
"
No
,
no
,
I
cannot
permit
even
that
—
"
But
Sir
Charles
,
in
spite
of
the
warning
finger
held
up
by
the
Judge
,
insisted
upon
crying
out
to
her
,
as
she
was
being
led
into
the
other
room
:
"
Courage
,
dear
lady
,
courage
.
Do
n't
let
them
bully
you
.
You
have
nothing
to
fear
.
"
Any
further
defiance
of
authority
was
now
prevented
by
her
almost
forcible
removal
from
the
room
.
CHAPTER
VI
The
stormy
episode
just
ended
had
rather
a
disturbing
effect
on
M
.
Floçon
,
who
could
scarcely
give
his
full
attention
to
all
the
points
,
old
and
new
,
that
had
now
arisen
in
the
investigation
.
But
he
would
have
time
to
go
over
them
at
his
leisure
,
while
the
work
of
interrogation
was
undertaken
by
the
Judge
.
The
latter
had
taken
his
seat
at
a
small
table
,
and
just
opposite
was
his
greffier
,
or
clerk
,
who
was
to
write
down
question
and
answer
,
verbatim
.
A
little
to
one
side
,
with
the
light
full
on
the
face
,
the
witness
was
seated
,
bearing
the
scrutiny
of
three
pairs
of
eyes
—
the
Judge
first
,
and
behind
him
,
those
of
the
Chief
Detective
and
the
Commissary
of
Police
.
"
I
trust
,
madame
,
that
you
are
equal
to
answering
a
few
questions
?
"
began
M
.
le
Hardi
,
blandly
.
"
Oh
,
yes
,
I
hope
so
.
Indeed
,
I
have
no
choice
,
"
replied
the
Countess
,
bravely
resigned
.
"
They
will
refer
principally
to
your
maid
.
"
"
Ah
!
"
said
the
Countess
,
quickly
and
in
a
troubled
voice
,
yet
she
bore
the
gaze
of
the
three
officials
without
flinching
.
"
I
want
to
know
a
little
more
about
her
,
if
you
please
.
"
"
Of
course
.
Anything
I
know
I
will
tell
you
.
"
She
spoke
now
with
perfect
self-possession
.
"
But
if
I
might
ask
—
why
this
interest
?
"
"
I
will
tell
you
frankly
.
You
asked
for
her
,
we
sent
for
her
,
and
—
"
"
Yes
?
"
"
She
cannot
be
found
.
She
is
not
in
the
station
.
"
The
Countess
all
but
jumped
from
her
chair
in
her
surprise
—
surprise
that
seemed
too
spontaneous
to
be
feigned
.
"
Impossible
!
it
cannot
be
.
She
would
not
dare
to
leave
me
here
like
this
,
all
alone
.
"
"
Parbleu
!
she
has
dared
.
Most
certainly
she
is
not
here
.
"
"
But
what
can
have
become
of
her
?
"
"
Ah
,
madame
,
what
indeed
?
Can
you
form
any
idea
?
We
hoped
you
might
have
been
able
to
enlighten
us
.
"
"
I
cannot
,
monsieur
,
not
in
the
least
.
"
"
Perchance
you
sent
her
on
to
your
hotel
to
warn
your
friends
that
you
were
detained
?
To
fetch
them
,
perhaps
,
to
you
in
your
trouble
?
"
The
trap
was
neatly
contrived
,
but
she
was
not
deceived
.
"
How
could
I
?
I
knew
of
no
trouble
when
I
saw
her
last
.
"
"
Oh
,
indeed
?
and
when
was
that
?
"
"
Last
night
,
at
Amberieux
,
as
I
have
already
told
that
gentleman
.
"
She
pointed
to
M
.
Floçon
,
who
was
obliged
to
nod
his
head
.
"
Well
,
she
has
gone
away
somewhere
.
It
does
not
much
matter
,
still
it
is
odd
,
and
for
your
sake
we
should
like
to
help
you
to
find
her
,
if
you
do
wish
to
find
her
?
"
Another
little
trap
which
failed
.
"
Indeed
I
hardly
think
she
is
worth
keeping
after
this
barefaced
desertion
.
"
"
No
,
indeed
.
And
she
must
be
held
to
strict
account
for
it
,
must
justify
it
,
give
her
reasons
.
So
we
must
find
her
for
you
—
"
"
I
am
not
at
all
anxious
,
really
,
"
the
Countess
said
,
quickly
,
and
the
remark
told
against
her
.
"
Well
,
now
,
Madame
la
Comtesse
,
as
to
her
description
.
Will
you
tell
us
what
was
her
height
,
figure
,
colour
of
eyes
,
hair
,
general
appearance
?
"
"
She
was
tall
,
above
the
middle
height
,
at
least
;
slight
,
good
figure
,
black
hair
and
eyes
.
"
"
Pretty
?
"
"
That
depends
upon
what
you
mean
by
'
pretty
.
'
Some
people
might
think
so
,
in
her
own
class
.
"
"
How
was
she
dressed
?
"
"
In
plain
dark
serge
,
bonnet
of
black
straw
and
brown
ribbons
.
I
do
not
allow
my
maid
to
wear
colours
.
"
"
Exactly
.
And
her
name
,
age
,
place
of
birth
?
"
"
Hortense
Petitpré
,
thirty-two
,
born
,
I
believe
,
in
Paris
.
"
The
Judge
,
when
these
particulars
had
been
given
,
looked
over
his
shoulder
towards
the
detective
,
but
said
nothing
.
It
was
quite
unnecessary
,
for
M
.
Floçon
,
who
had
been
writing
in
his
note-book
,
now
rose
and
left
the
room
.
He
called
Galipaud
to
him
,
saying
sharply
:
"
Here
is
the
more
detailed
description
of
the
lady
's
maid
,
and
in
writing
.
Have
it
copied
and
circulate
it
at
once
.
Give
it
to
the
station-master
,
and
to
the
agents
of
police
round
about
here
.
I
have
an
idea
—
only
an
idea
—
that
this
woman
has
not
gone
far
.
It
may
be
worth
nothing
,
still
there
is
the
chance
.
People
who
are
wanted
often
hang
about
the
very
place
they
would
not
stay
in
if
they
were
wise
.
Anyhow
,
set
a
watch
for
her
and
come
back
here
.
"
Meanwhile
,
the
Judge
had
continued
his
questioning
.
"
And
where
,
madame
,
did
you
obtain
your
maid
?
"
"
In
Rome
.
She
was
there
,
out
of
a
place
.
I
heard
of
her
at
an
agency
and
registry
office
,
when
I
was
looking
for
a
maid
a
month
or
two
ago
.
"
"
Then
she
has
not
been
long
in
your
service
?
"
"
No
;
as
I
tell
you
,
she
came
to
me
in
December
last
.
"
"
Well
recommended
?
"
"
Strongly
.
She
had
lived
with
good
families
,
French
and
English
.
"
"
And
with
you
,
what
was
her
character
?
"
"
Irreproachable
.
"
"
Well
,
so
much
for
Hortense
Petitpré
.
She
is
not
far
off
,
I
dare
say
.
When
we
want
her
we
shall
be
able
to
lay
hands
on
her
,
I
do
not
doubt
,
madame
may
rest
assured
.
"
"
Pray
take
no
trouble
in
the
matter
.
I
certainly
should
not
keep
her
.
"
"
Very
well
,
very
well
.
And
now
,
another
small
matter
.
I
see
,
"
he
referred
to
the
rough
plan
of
the
sleeping-car
prepared
by
M
.
Floçon
,
—
"
I
see
that
you
occupied
the
compartment
d
,
with
berths
Nos.
9
and
10
?
"
"
I
think
9
was
the
number
of
my
berth
.
"
"
It
was
.
You
may
be
certain
of
that
.
Now
next
door
to
your
compartment
—
do
you
know
who
was
next
door
?
I
mean
in
7
and
8
?
"
The
Countess
's
lip
quivered
,
and
she
was
a
prey
to
sudden
emotion
as
she
answered
in
a
low
voice
:
"
It
was
where
—
where
—
"
"
There
,
there
,
madame
,
"
said
the
Judge
,
reassuring
her
as
he
would
a
little
child
.
"
You
need
not
say
.
It
is
no
doubt
very
distressing
to
you
.
Yet
,
you
know
?
"
She
bent
her
head
slowly
,
but
uttered
no
word
.
"
Now
this
man
,
this
poor
man
,
had
you
noticed
him
at
all
?
No
—
no
—
not
afterwards
,
of
course
.
It
would
not
be
likely
.
But
during
the
journey
.
Did
you
speak
to
him
,
or
he
to
you
?
"
"
No
,
no
—
distinctly
no.
"
"
Nor
see
him
?
"
"
Yes
,
I
saw
him
,
I
believe
,
at
Modane
with
the
rest
when
we
dined
.
"
"
Ah
!
exactly
so
.
He
dined
at
Modane
.
Was
that
the
only
occasion
on
which
you
saw
him
?
You
had
never
met
him
previously
in
Rome
,
where
you
resided
?
"
"
Whom
do
you
mean
?
The
murdered
man
?
"
"
Who
else
?
"
"
No
,
not
that
I
am
aware
of
.
At
least
I
did
not
recognize
him
as
a
friend
.
"
"
I
presume
,
if
he
was
among
your
friends
—
"
"
Pardon
me
,
that
he
certainly
was
not
,
"
interrupted
the
Countess
.
"
Well
,
among
your
acquaintances
—
he
would
probably
have
made
himself
known
to
you
?
"
"
I
suppose
so
.
"
"
And
he
did
not
do
so
?
He
never
spoke
to
you
,
nor
you
to
him
?
"
"
I
never
saw
him
,
the
occupant
of
that
compartment
,
except
on
that
one
occasion
.
I
kept
a
good
deal
in
my
compartment
during
the
journey
.
"
"
Alone
?
It
must
have
been
very
dull
for
you
,
"
said
the
Judge
,
pleasantly
.
"
I
was
not
always
alone
,
"
said
the
Countess
,
hesitatingly
,
and
with
a
slight
flush
.
"
I
had
friends
in
the
car
.
"
"
Oh
—
oh
"
—
the
exclamation
was
long-drawn
and
rather
significant
.
"
Who
were
they
?
You
may
as
well
tell
us
,
madame
,
we
should
certainly
find
out
.
"
"
I
have
no
wish
to
withhold
the
information
,
"
she
replied
,
now
turning
pale
,
possibly
at
the
imputation
conveyed
.
"
Why
should
I
?
"
"
And
these
friends
were
—
?
"
"
Sir
Charles
Collingham
and
his
brother
.
They
came
and
sat
with
me
occasionally
;
sometimes
one
,
sometimes
the
other
.
"
"
During
the
day
?
"
"
Of
course
,
during
the
day
.
"
Her
eyes
flashed
,
as
though
the
question
was
another
offence
.
"
Have
you
known
them
long
?
"
"
The
General
I
met
in
Roman
society
last
winter
.
It
was
he
who
introduced
his
brother
.
"
"
Very
good
,
so
far
.
The
General
knew
you
,
took
an
interest
in
you
.
That
explains
his
strange
,
unjustifiable
conduct
just
now
—
"
"
I
do
not
think
it
was
either
strange
or
unjustifiable
,
"
interrupted
the
Countess
,
hotly
.
"
He
is
a
gentleman
.
"
"
Quite
a
preux
cavalier
,
of
course
.
But
we
will
pass
on
.
You
are
not
a
good
sleeper
,
I
believe
,
madame
?
"
"
Indeed
no
,
I
sleep
badly
,
as
a
rule
.
"
"
Then
you
would
be
easily
disturbed
.
Now
,
last
night
,
did
you
hear
anything
strange
in
the
car
,
more
particularly
in
the
adjoining
compartment
?
"
"
Nothing
.
"
"
No
sound
of
voices
raised
high
,
no
noise
of
a
conflict
,
a
struggle
?
"
"
No
,
monsieur
.
"
"
That
is
odd
.
I
cannot
understand
it
.
We
know
,
beyond
all
question
,
from
the
appearance
of
the
body
,
—
the
corpse
,
—
that
there
was
a
fight
,
an
encounter
.
Yet
you
,
a
wretched
sleeper
,
with
only
a
thin
plank
of
wood
between
you
and
the
affray
,
hear
nothing
,
absolutely
nothing
.
It
is
most
extraordinary
.
"
"
I
was
asleep
.
I
must
have
been
asleep
.
"
"
A
light
sleeper
would
certainly
be
awakened
.
How
can
you
explain
—
how
can
you
reconcile
that
?
"
The
question
was
blandly
put
,
but
the
Judge
's
incredulity
verged
upon
actual
insolence
.
"
Easily
:
I
had
taken
a
soporific
.
I
always
do
,
on
a
journey
.
I
am
obliged
to
keep
something
,
sulphonal
or
chloral
,
by
me
,
on
purpose
.
"
"
Then
this
,
madame
,
is
yours
?
"
And
the
Judge
,
with
an
air
of
undisguised
triumph
,
produced
the
small
glass
vial
which
M
.
Floçon
had
picked
up
in
the
sleeping-car
near
the
conductor
's
seat
.
The
Countess
,
with
a
quick
gesture
,
put
out
her
hand
to
take
it
.
"
No
,
I
cannot
give
it
up
.
Look
as
near
as
you
like
,
and
say
is
it
yours
?
"
"
Of
course
it
is
mine
.
Where
did
you
get
it
?
Not
in
my
berth
?
"
"
No
,
madame
,
not
in
your
berth
.
"
"
But
where
?
"
"
Pardon
me
,
we
shall
not
tell
you
—
not
just
now
.
"
"
I
missed
it
last
night
,
"
went
on
the
Countess
,
slightly
confused
.
"
After
you
had
taken
your
dose
of
chloral
?
"
"
No
,
before
.
"
"
And
why
did
you
want
this
?
It
is
laudanum
.
"
"
For
my
nerves
.
I
have
a
toothache
.
I
—
I
—
really
,
sir
,
I
need
not
tell
you
all
my
ailments
.
"
"
And
the
maid
had
removed
it
?
"
"
So
I
presume
;
she
must
have
taken
it
out
of
the
bag
in
the
first
instance
.
"
"
And
then
kept
it
?
"
"
That
is
what
I
can
only
suppose
.
"
"
Ah
!
"
CHAPTER
VII
When
the
Judge
had
brought
down
the
interrogation
of
the
Countess
to
the
production
of
the
small
glass
bottle
,
he
paused
,
and
with
a
long-drawn
"
Ah
!
"
of
satisfaction
,
looked
round
at
his
colleagues
.
Both
M
.
Floçon
and
the
Commissary
nodded
their
heads
approvingly
,
plainly
sharing
his
triumph
.
Then
they
all
put
their
heads
together
in
close
,
whispered
conference
.
"
Admirable
,
M
.
le
Juge
!
"
said
the
detective
.
"
You
have
been
most
adroit
.
It
is
a
clear
case
.
"
"
No
doubt
,
"
said
the
Commissary
,
who
was
a
blunt
,
rather
coarse
person
,
believing
that
to
take
anybody
and
everybody
into
custody
is
always
the
safest
and
simplest
course
.
"
It
looks
black
against
her
.
I
think
she
ought
to
be
arrested
at
once
.
"
"
We
might
,
indeed
we
ought
to
have
more
evidence
,
more
definite
evidence
,
perhaps
?
"
The
Judge
was
musing
over
the
facts
as
he
knew
them
.
"
I
should
like
,
before
going
further
,
to
look
at
the
car
,
"
he
said
,
suddenly
coming
to
a
conclusion
.
M
.
Floçon
readily
agreed
.
"
We
will
go
together
,
"
he
said
,
adding
,
"
Madame
will
remain
here
,
please
,
until
we
return
.
It
may
not
be
for
long
.
"
"
And
afterwards
?
"
asked
the
Countess
,
whose
nervousness
had
if
anything
increased
during
the
whispered
colloquy
of
the
officials
.
"
Ah
,
afterwards
!
Who
knows
?
"
was
the
reply
,
with
a
shrug
of
the
shoulders
,
all
most
enigmatic
and
unsatisfactory
.
"
What
have
we
against
her
?
"
said
the
Judge
,
as
soon
as
they
had
gained
the
absolute
privacy
of
the
sleeping-car
.
"
The
bottle
of
laudanum
and
the
porter
's
condition
.
He
was
undoubtedly
drugged
,
"
answered
the
detective
;
and
the
discussion
which
followed
took
the
form
of
a
dialogue
between
them
,
for
the
Commissary
took
no
part
in
it
.
"
Yes
;
but
why
by
the
Countess
?
How
do
we
know
that
positively
?
"
"
It
is
her
bottle
,
"
said
M
.
Floçon
.
"
Her
story
may
be
true
—
that
she
missed
it
,
that
the
maid
took
it
.
"
"
We
have
nothing
whatever
against
the
maid
.
We
know
nothing
about
her
.
"
"
No.
Except
that
she
has
disappeared
.
But
that
tells
more
against
her
mistress
.
It
is
all
very
vague
.
I
do
not
see
my
way
quite
,
as
yet
.
"
"
But
the
fragment
of
lace
,
the
broken
beading
?
Surely
,
M
.
le
Juge
,
they
are
a
woman
's
,
and
only
one
woman
was
in
the
car
—
"
"
So
far
as
we
know
.
"
"
But
if
these
could
be
proved
to
be
hers
?
"
"
Ah
!
if
you
could
prove
that
!
"
"
Easy
enough
.
Have
her
searched
,
here
at
once
,
in
the
station
.
There
is
a
female
searcher
attached
to
the
detention-room
.
"
"
It
is
a
strong
measure
.
She
is
a
lady
.
"
"
Ladies
who
commit
crimes
must
not
expect
to
be
handled
with
kid
gloves
.
"
"
She
is
an
Englishwoman
,
or
with
English
connections
;
titled
,
too
.
I
hesitate
,
upon
my
word
.
Suppose
we
are
wrong
?
It
may
lead
to
unpleasantness
.
M
.
le
Prefet
is
anxious
to
avoid
complications
possibly
international
.
"
As
he
spoke
,
he
bent
over
,
and
,
taking
a
magnifier
from
his
pocket
,
examined
the
lace
,
which
still
fluttered
where
it
was
caught
.
"
It
is
fine
lace
,
I
think
.
What
say
you
,
M
.
Floçon
?
You
may
be
more
experienced
in
such
matters
.
"
"
The
finest
,
or
nearly
so
;
I
believe
it
is
Valenciennes
—
the
trimming
of
some
underclothing
,
I
should
think
.
That
surely
is
sufficient
,
M
.
le
Juge
?
"
M
.
Beaumont
le
Hardi
gave
a
reluctant
consent
,
and
the
Chief
went
back
himself
to
see
that
the
searching
was
undertaken
without
loss
of
time
.
The
Countess
protested
,
but
vainly
,
against
this
new
indignity
.
What
could
she
do
?
A
prisoner
,
practically
friendless
,
—
for
the
General
was
not
within
reach
,
—
to
resist
was
out
of
the
question
.
Indeed
,
she
was
plainly
told
that
force
would
be
employed
unless
she
submitted
with
a
good
grace
.
There
was
nothing
for
it
but
to
obey
.
Mother
Tontaine
,
as
the
female
searcher
called
herself
,
was
an
evil-visaged
,
corpulent
old
creature
,
with
a
sickly
,
soft
,
insinuating
voice
,
and
a
greasy
,
familiar
manner
that
was
most
offensive
.
They
had
given
her
the
scrap
of
torn
lace
and
the
débris
of
the
jet
as
a
guide
,
with
very
particular
directions
to
see
if
they
corresponded
with
any
part
of
the
lady
's
apparel
.
She
soon
showed
her
quality
.
"
Aha
!
oho
!
What
is
this
,
my
pretty
princess
?
How
comes
so
great
a
lady
into
the
hands
of
Mother
Tontaine
?
But
I
will
not
harm
you
,
my
beauty
,
my
pretty
,
my
little
one
.
Oh
,
no
,
no
,
I
will
not
trouble
you
,
dearie
.
No
,
trust
to
me
;
"
and
she
held
out
one
skinny
claw
,
and
looked
the
other
way
.
The
Countess
did
not
or
would
not
understand
.
"
Madame
has
money
?
"
went
on
the
old
hag
in
a
half-threatening
,
half-coaxing
whisper
,
as
she
came
up
quite
close
,
and
fastened
on
her
victim
like
a
bird
of
prey
.
"
If
you
mean
that
I
am
to
bribe
you
—
"
"
Fie
,
the
nasty
word
!
But
just
a
small
present
,
a
pretty
gift
,
one
or
two
yellow
bits
,
twenty
,
thirty
,
forty
francs
—
you
'd
better
.
"
She
shook
the
soft
arm
she
held
roughly
,
and
anything
seemed
preferable
than
to
be
touched
by
this
horrible
woman
.
"
Wait
,
wait
!
"
cried
the
Countess
,
shivering
all
over
,
and
,
feeling
hastily
for
her
purse
,
she
took
out
several
napoleons
.
"
Aha
!
oho
!
One
,
two
,
three
,
"
said
the
searcher
in
a
fat
,
wheedling
voice
.
"
Four
,
yes
,
four
,
five
;
"
and
she
clinked
the
coins
together
in
her
palm
,
while
a
covetous
light
came
into
her
faded
eyes
at
the
joyous
sound
.
"
Five
—
make
it
five
at
once
,
d'ye
hear
me
?
—
or
I
'll
call
them
in
and
tell
them
.
That
will
go
against
you
,
my
princess
.
What
,
try
to
bribe
a
poor
old
woman
,
Mother
Tontaine
,
honest
and
incorruptible
Tontaine
?
Five
,
then
,
five
!
"
With
trembling
haste
the
Countess
emptied
the
whole
contents
of
her
purse
in
the
old
hag
's
hand
.
"
Bon
aubaine
.
Nice
pickings
.
It
is
a
misery
what
they
pay
me
here
.
I
am
,
oh
,
so
poor
,
and
I
have
children
,
many
babies
.
You
will
not
tell
them
—
the
police
—
you
dare
not
.
No
,
no
,
no.
"
Thus
muttering
to
herself
,
she
shambled
across
the
room
to
a
corner
,
where
she
stowed
the
money
safely
away
.
Then
she
came
back
,
showed
the
bit
of
lace
,
and
pressed
it
into
the
Countess
's
hands
.
"
Do
you
know
this
,
little
one
?
Where
it
comes
from
,
where
there
is
much
more
?
I
was
told
to
look
for
it
,
to
search
for
it
on
you
;
"
and
with
a
quick
gesture
she
lifted
the
edge
of
the
Countess
's
skirt
,
dropping
it
next
moment
with
a
low
,
chuckling
laugh
.
"
Oho
!
aha
!
You
were
right
,
my
pretty
,
to
pay
me
,
my
pretty
—
right
.
And
some
day
,
to-day
,
to-morrow
,
whenever
I
ask
you
,
you
will
remember
Mother
Tontaine
.
"
The
Countess
listened
with
dismay
.
What
had
she
done
?
Put
herself
into
the
power
of
this
greedy
and
unscrupulous
old
beldame
?
"
And
this
,
my
princess
?
What
have
we
here
,
aha
?
"
Mère
Tontaine
held
up
next
the
broken
bit
of
jet
ornament
for
inspection
,
and
as
the
Countess
leaned
forward
to
examine
it
more
closely
,
gave
it
into
her
hand
.
"
You
recognize
it
,
of
course
.
But
be
careful
,
my
pretty
!
Beware
!
If
any
one
were
looking
,
it
would
ruin
you
.
I
could
not
save
you
then
.
Sh
!
say
nothing
,
only
look
,
and
quick
,
give
it
me
back
.
I
must
have
it
to
show
.
"
All
this
time
the
Countess
was
turning
the
jet
over
and
over
in
her
open
palm
,
with
a
perplexed
,
disturbed
,
but
hardly
a
terrified
air
.
Yes
,
she
knew
it
,
or
thought
she
knew
it
.
It
had
been
—
But
how
had
it
come
here
,
into
the
possession
of
this
base
myrmidon
of
the
French
police
?
"
Give
it
me
,
quick
!
"
There
was
a
loud
knock
at
the
door
.
"
They
are
coming
.
Remember
!
"
Mother
Tontaine
put
her
long
finger
to
her
lip
.
"
Not
a
word
!
I
have
found
nothing
,
of
course
.
Nothing
,
I
can
swear
to
that
,
and
you
will
not
forget
Mother
Tontaine
?
"
Now
M
.
Floçon
stood
at
the
open
door
awaiting
the
searcher
's
report
.
He
looked
much
disconcerted
when
the
old
woman
took
him
on
one
side
and
briefly
explained
that
the
search
had
been
altogether
fruitless
.
There
was
nothing
to
justify
suspicion
,
nothing
,
so
far
as
she
could
find
.
The
detective
looked
from
one
to
the
other
—
from
the
hag
he
had
employed
in
this
unpleasant
quest
,
to
the
lady
on
whom
it
had
been
tried
.
The
Countess
,
to
his
surprise
,
did
not
complain
.
He
had
expected
further
and
strong
upbraidings
.
Strange
to
say
,
she
took
it
very
quietly
.
There
was
no
indignation
in
her
face
.
She
was
still
pale
,
and
her
hands
trembled
,
but
she
said
nothing
,
made
no
reference
,
at
least
,
to
what
she
had
just
gone
through
.
Again
he
took
counsel
with
his
colleague
,
while
the
Countess
was
kept
apart
.
"
What
next
,
M
.
Floçon
?
"
asked
the
Judge
.
"
What
shall
we
do
with
her
?
"
"
Let
her
go
,
"
answered
the
detective
,
briefly
.
"
What
!
do
you
suggest
this
,
sir
,
"
said
the
Judge
,
slyly
.
"
After
your
strong
and
well-grounded
suspicions
?
"
"
They
are
as
strong
as
ever
,
stronger
:
and
I
feel
sure
I
shall
yet
justify
them
.
But
what
I
wish
now
is
to
let
her
go
at
large
,
under
surveillance
.
"
"
Ah
!
you
would
shadow
her
?
"
"
Precisely
.
By
a
good
agent
.
Galipaud
,
for
instance
.
He
speaks
English
,
and
he
can
,
if
necessary
,
follow
her
anywhere
,
even
to
England
.
"
"
She
can
be
extradited
,
"
said
the
Commissary
,
with
his
one
prominent
idea
of
arrest
.
"
Do
you
agree
,
M
.
le
Juge
?
Then
,
if
you
will
permit
me
,
I
will
give
the
necessary
orders
,
and
perhaps
you
will
inform
the
lady
that
she
is
free
to
leave
the
station
?
"
The
Countess
now
had
reason
to
change
her
opinion
of
the
French
officials
.
Great
politeness
now
replaced
the
first
severity
that
had
been
so
cruel
.
She
was
told
,
with
many
bows
and
apologies
,
that
her
regretted
but
unavoidable
detention
was
at
an
end
.
Not
only
was
she
freely
allowed
to
depart
,
but
she
was
escorted
by
both
M
.
Floçon
and
the
Commissary
outside
,
to
where
an
omnibus
was
in
waiting
,
and
all
her
baggage
piled
on
top
,
even
to
the
dressing-bag
,
which
had
been
neatly
repacked
for
her
.
But
the
little
silver-topped
vial
had
not
been
restored
to
her
,
nor
the
handkerchief
.
In
her
joy
at
her
deliverance
,
either
she
had
not
given
these
a
second
thought
,
or
she
did
not
wish
to
appear
anxious
to
recover
them
.
Nor
did
she
notice
that
,
as
the
bus
passed
through
the
gates
at
the
bottom
of
the
large
slope
that
leads
from
the
Lyons
Station
,
it
was
followed
at
a
discreet
distance
by
a
modest
fiacre
,
which
pulled
up
,
eventually
,
outside
the
Hôtel
Madagascar
.
Its
occupant
,
M
.
Galipaud
,
kept
the
Countess
in
sight
,
and
,
entering
the
hotel
at
her
heels
,
waited
till
she
had
left
the
office
,
when
he
held
a
long
conference
with
the
proprietor
.
CHAPTER
VIII
A
first
stage
in
the
inquiry
had
now
been
reached
,
with
results
that
seemed
promising
,
and
were
yet
contradictory
.
No
doubt
the
watch
to
be
set
on
the
Countess
might
lead
to
something
yet
—
something
to
bring
first
plausible
suspicion
to
a
triumphant
issue
;
but
the
examination
of
the
other
occupants
of
the
car
should
not
be
allowed
to
slacken
on
that
account
.
The
Countess
might
have
some
confederate
among
them
—
this
pestilent
English
General
,
perhaps
,
who
had
made
himself
so
conspicuous
in
her
defence
;
or
some
one
of
them
might
throw
light
upon
her
movements
,
upon
her
conduct
during
the
journey
.
Then
,
with
a
spasm
of
self-reproach
,
M
.
Floçon
remembered
that
two
distinct
suggestions
had
been
made
to
him
by
two
of
the
travellers
,
and
that
,
so
far
,
he
had
neglected
them
.
One
was
the
significant
hint
from
the
Italian
that
he
could
materially
help
the
inquiry
.
The
other
was
the
General
's
sneering
assertion
that
the
train
had
not
continued
its
journey
uninterruptedly
between
Laroche
and
Paris
.
Consulting
the
Judge
,
and
laying
these
facts
before
him
,
it
was
agreed
that
the
Italian
's
offer
seemed
the
most
important
,
and
he
was
accordingly
called
in
next
.
"
Who
and
what
are
you
?
"
asked
the
Judge
,
carelessly
,
but
the
answer
roused
him
at
once
to
intense
interest
,
and
he
could
not
quite
resist
a
glance
of
reproach
at
M
.
Floçon
.
"
My
name
I
have
given
you
—
Natale
Ripaldi
.
I
am
a
detective
officer
belonging
to
the
Roman
police
.
"
"
What
!
"
cried
M
.
Floçon
,
colouring
deeply
.
"
This
is
unheard
of
.
Why
in
the
name
of
all
the
devils
have
you
withheld
this
most
astonishing
statement
until
now
?
"
"
Monsieur
surely
remembers
.
I
told
him
half
an
hour
ago
I
had
something
important
to
communicate
—
"
"
Yes
,
yes
,
of
course
.
But
why
were
you
so
reticent
.
Good
Heavens
!
"
"
Monsieur
was
not
so
encouraging
that
I
felt
disposed
to
force
on
him
what
I
knew
he
would
have
to
hear
in
due
course
.
"
"
It
is
monstrous
—
quite
abominable
,
and
shall
not
end
here
.
Your
superiors
shall
hear
of
your
conduct
,
"
went
on
the
Chief
,
hotly
.
"
They
will
also
hear
,
and
,
I
think
,
listen
to
my
version
of
the
story
,
—
that
I
offered
you
fairly
,
and
at
the
first
opportunity
,
all
the
information
I
had
,
and
that
you
refused
to
accept
it
.
"
"
You
should
have
persisted
.
It
was
your
manifest
duty
.
You
are
an
officer
of
the
law
,
or
you
say
you
are
.
"
"
Pray
telegraph
at
once
,
if
you
think
fit
,
to
Rome
,
to
the
police
authorities
,
and
you
will
find
that
Natale
Ripaldi
—
your
humble
servant
—
travelled
by
the
through
express
with
their
knowledge
and
authority
.
And
here
are
my
credentials
,
my
official
card
,
some
official
letters
—
"
"
And
what
,
in
a
word
,
have
you
to
tell
us
?
"
"
I
can
tell
you
who
the
murdered
man
was
.
"
"
We
know
that
already
.
"
"
Possibly
;
but
only
his
name
,
I
apprehend
.
I
know
his
profession
,
his
business
,
his
object
in
travelling
,
for
I
was
appointed
to
watch
and
follow
him
.
That
is
why
I
am
here
.
"
"
Was
he
a
suspicious
character
,
then
?
A
criminal
?
"
"
At
any
rate
he
was
absconding
from
Rome
,
with
valuables
.
"
"
A
thief
,
in
fact
?
"
The
Italian
put
out
the
palms
of
his
hands
with
a
gesture
of
doubt
and
deprecation
.
"
Thief
is
a
hard
,
ugly
word
.
That
which
he
was
removing
was
,
or
had
been
,
his
own
property
.
"
"
Tut
,
tut
!
do
be
more
explicit
and
get
on
,
"
interrupted
the
little
Chief
,
testily
.
"
I
ask
nothing
better
;
but
if
questions
are
put
to
me
—
"
The
Judge
interposed
.
"
Give
us
your
story
.
We
can
interrogate
you
afterwards
.
"
"
The
murdered
man
is
Francis
A
.
Quadling
,
of
the
firm
of
Correse
+
Quadling
,
bankers
,
in
the
Via
Condotti
,
Rome
.
It
was
an
old
house
,
once
of
good
,
of
the
highest
repute
,
but
of
late
years
it
has
fallen
into
difficulties
.
Its
financial
soundness
was
doubted
in
certain
circles
,
and
the
Government
was
warned
that
a
great
scandal
was
imminent
.
So
the
matter
was
handed
over
to
the
police
,
and
I
was
directed
to
make
inquiries
,
and
to
keep
my
eye
on
this
Quadling
"
—
he
jerked
his
thumb
towards
the
platform
,
where
the
body
might
be
supposed
to
be
.
"
This
Quadling
was
the
only
surviving
partner
.
He
was
well
known
and
liked
in
Rome
,
indeed
,
many
who
heard
the
adverse
reports
disbelieved
them
,
I
myself
among
the
number
.
But
my
duty
was
plain
—
"
"
Naturally
,
"
echoed
the
fiery
little
detective
.
"
I
made
it
my
business
to
place
the
banker
under
surveillance
,
to
learn
his
habits
,
his
ways
of
life
,
see
who
were
his
friends
,
the
houses
he
visited
.
I
soon
knew
much
that
I
wanted
to
know
,
although
not
all
.
But
one
fact
I
discovered
,
and
think
it
right
to
inform
you
of
it
at
once
.
He
was
on
intimate
terms
with
La
Castagneto
—
at
least
,
he
frequently
called
upon
her
.
"
"
La
Castagneto
!
Do
you
mean
the
Countess
of
that
name
,
who
was
a
passenger
in
the
sleeper
?
"
"
Beyond
doubt
!
it
is
she
I
mean
.
"
The
officials
looked
at
each
other
eagerly
,
and
M
.
Beaumont
le
Hardi
quickly
turned
over
the
sheets
on
which
the
Countess
's
evidence
was
recorded
.
She
had
denied
acquaintance
with
this
murdered
man
,
Quadling
,
and
here
was
positive
evidence
that
they
were
on
intimate
terms
!
"
He
was
at
her
house
on
the
very
day
we
all
left
Rome
—
in
the
evening
,
towards
dusk
.
The
Countess
had
an
apartment
in
the
Via
Margutta
,
and
when
he
left
her
he
returned
to
his
own
place
in
the
Condotti
,
entered
the
bank
,
stayed
half
an
hour
,
then
came
out
with
one
hand-bag
and
rug
,
called
a
cab
,
and
was
driven
straight
to
the
railway
station
.
"
"
And
you
followed
?
"
"
Of
course
.
When
I
saw
him
walk
straight
to
the
sleeping-car
,
and
ask
the
conductor
for
7
and
8
,
I
knew
that
his
plans
had
been
laid
,
and
that
he
was
on
the
point
of
leaving
Rome
secretly
.
When
,
presently
,
La
Castagneto
also
arrived
,
I
concluded
that
she
was
in
his
confidence
,
and
that
possibly
they
were
eloping
together
.
"
"
Why
did
you
not
arrest
him
?
"
"
I
had
no
authority
,
even
if
I
had
had
the
time
.
Although
I
was
ordered
to
watch
the
Signor
Quadling
,
I
had
no
warrant
for
his
arrest
.
But
I
decided
on
the
spur
of
the
moment
what
course
I
should
take
.
It
seemed
to
be
the
only
one
,
and
that
was
to
embark
in
the
same
train
and
stick
close
to
my
man
.
"
"
You
informed
your
superiors
,
I
suppose
?
"
"
Pardon
me
,
monsieur
,
"
said
the
Italian
blandly
to
the
Chief
,
who
asked
the
question
,
"
but
have
you
any
right
to
inquire
into
my
conduct
towards
my
superiors
?
In
all
that
affects
the
murder
I
am
at
your
orders
,
but
in
this
other
matter
it
is
between
me
and
them
.
"
"
Ta
,
ta
,
ta
!
They
will
tell
us
if
you
will
not
.
And
you
had
better
be
careful
,
lest
you
obstruct
justice
.
Speak
out
,
sir
,
and
beware
.
What
did
you
intend
to
do
?
"
"
To
act
according
to
circumstances
.
If
my
suspicions
were
confirmed
—
"
"
What
suspicions
?
"
"
Why
—
that
this
banker
was
carrying
off
any
large
sum
in
cash
,
notes
,
securities
,
as
in
effect
he
was
.
"
"
Ah
!
You
know
that
?
How
?
"
"
By
my
own
eyes
.
I
looked
into
his
compartment
once
and
saw
him
in
the
act
of
counting
them
over
,
a
great
quantity
,
in
fact
—
"
Again
the
officials
looked
at
each
other
significantly
.
They
had
got
at
last
to
a
motive
for
the
crime
.
"
And
that
,
of
course
,
would
have
justified
his
arrest
?
"
"
Exactly
.
I
proposed
,
directly
we
arrived
in
Paris
,
to
claim
the
assistance
of
your
police
and
take
him
into
custody
.
But
his
fate
interposed
.
"
There
was
a
pause
,
a
long
pause
,
for
another
important
point
had
been
reached
in
the
inquiry
:
the
motive
for
the
murder
had
been
made
clear
,
and
with
it
the
presumption
against
the
Countess
gained
terrible
strength
.
But
there
was
more
,
perhaps
,
to
be
got
out
of
this
dark-visaged
Italian
detective
,
who
had
already
proved
so
useful
an
ally
.
"
One
or
two
words
more
,
"
said
the
Judge
to
Ripaldi
.
"
During
the
journey
,
now
,
did
you
have
any
conversation
with
this
Quadling
?
"
"
None
.
He
kept
very
much
to
himself
.
"
"
You
saw
him
,
I
suppose
,
at
the
restaurants
?
"
"
Yes
,
at
Modane
and
Laroche
.
"
"
But
did
not
speak
to
him
?
"
"
Not
a
word
.
"
"
Had
he
any
suspicion
,
do
you
think
,
as
to
who
you
were
?
"
"
Why
should
he
?
He
did
not
know
me
.
I
had
taken
pains
he
should
never
see
me
.
"
"
Did
he
speak
to
any
other
passenger
?
"
"
Very
little
.
To
the
Countess
.
Yes
,
once
or
twice
,
I
think
,
to
her
maid
.
"
"
Ah
!
that
maid
.
Did
you
notice
her
at
all
?
She
has
not
been
seen
.
It
is
strange
.
She
seems
to
have
disappeared
.
"
"
To
have
run
away
,
in
fact
?
"
suggested
Ripaldi
,
with
a
queer
smile
.
"
Well
,
at
least
she
is
not
here
with
her
mistress
.
Can
you
offer
any
explanation
of
that
?
"
"
She
was
perhaps
afraid
.
The
Countess
and
she
were
very
good
friends
,
I
think
.
On
better
,
more
familiar
terms
,
than
is
usual
between
mistress
and
maid
.
"
"
The
maid
knew
something
?
"
"
Ah
,
monsieur
,
it
is
only
an
idea
.
But
I
give
it
you
for
what
it
is
worth
.
"
"
Well
,
well
,
this
maid
—
what
was
she
like
?
"
"
Tall
,
dark
,
good-looking
,
not
too
reserved
.
She
made
other
friends
—
the
porter
and
the
English
Colonel
.
I
saw
the
last
speaking
to
her
.
I
spoke
to
her
myself
.
"
"
What
can
have
become
of
her
?
"
said
the
Judge
.
"
Would
M
.
le
Juge
like
me
to
go
in
search
of
her
?
That
is
,
if
you
have
no
more
questions
to
ask
,
no
wish
to
detain
me
further
?
"
"
We
will
consider
that
,
and
let
you
know
in
a
moment
,
if
you
will
wait
outside
.
"
And
then
,
when
alone
,
the
officials
deliberated
.
It
was
a
good
offer
,
the
man
knew
her
appearance
,
he
was
in
possession
of
all
the
facts
,
he
could
be
trusted
—
"
Ah
,
but
can
he
,
though
?
"
queried
the
detective
.
"
How
do
we
know
he
has
told
us
truth
?
What
guarantee
have
we
of
his
loyalty
,
his
good
faith
?
What
if
he
is
also
concerned
in
the
crime
—
has
some
guilty
knowledge
?
What
if
he
killed
Quadling
himself
,
or
was
an
accomplice
before
or
after
the
fact
?
"
"
All
these
are
possibilities
,
of
course
,
but
—
pardon
me
,
dear
colleague
—
a
little
far-fetched
,
eh
?
"
said
the
Judge
.
"
Why
not
utilize
this
man
?
If
he
betrays
us
—
serves
us
ill
—
if
we
had
reason
to
lay
hands
on
him
again
,
he
could
hardly
escape
us
.
"
"
Let
him
go
,
and
send
some
one
with
him
,
"
said
the
Commissary
,
the
first
practical
suggestion
he
had
yet
made
.
"
Excellent
!
"
cried
the
Judge
.
"
You
have
another
man
here
,
Chief
;
let
him
go
with
this
Italian
.
"
They
called
in
Ripaldi
and
told
him
,
"
We
will
accept
your
services
,
monsieur
,
and
you
can
begin
your
search
at
once
.
In
what
direction
do
you
propose
to
begin
?
"
"
Where
has
her
mistress
gone
?
"
"
How
do
you
know
she
has
gone
?
"
"
At
least
,
she
is
no
longer
with
us
out
there
.
Have
you
arrested
her
—
or
what
?
"
"
No
,
she
is
still
at
large
,
but
we
have
our
eye
upon
her
.
She
has
gone
to
her
hotel
—
the
Madagascar
,
off
the
Grands
Boulevards
.
"
"
Then
it
is
there
that
I
shall
look
for
the
maid
.
No
doubt
she
preceded
her
mistress
to
the
hotel
,
or
she
will
join
her
there
very
shortly
.
"
"
You
would
not
make
yourself
known
,
of
course
?
They
might
give
you
the
slip
.
You
have
no
authority
to
detain
them
,
not
in
France
.
"
"
I
should
take
my
precautions
,
and
I
can
always
appeal
to
the
police
.
"
"
Exactly
.
That
would
be
your
proper
course
.
But
you
might
lose
valuable
time
,
a
great
opportunity
,
and
we
wish
to
guard
against
that
,
so
we
shall
associate
one
of
our
own
people
with
you
in
your
proceedings
.
"
"
Oh
!
very
well
,
if
you
wish
.
It
will
,
no
doubt
,
be
best
.
"
The
Italian
readily
assented
,
but
a
shrewd
listener
might
have
guessed
from
the
tone
of
his
voice
that
the
proposal
was
not
exactly
pleasing
to
him
.
"
I
will
call
in
Block
,
"
said
the
Chief
,
and
the
second
detective
inspector
appeared
to
take
his
instructions
.
He
was
a
stout
,
stumpy
little
man
,
with
a
barrel-like
figure
,
greatly
emphasized
by
the
short
frock
coat
he
wore
;
he
had
smallish
pig
's
eyes
buried
deep
in
a
fat
face
,
and
his
round
,
chubby
cheeks
hung
low
over
his
turned-down
collar
.
"
This
gentleman
,
"
went
on
the
Chief
,
indicating
Ripaldi
,
"
is
a
member
of
the
Roman
police
,
and
has
been
so
obliging
as
to
offer
us
his
services
.
You
will
accompany
him
,
in
the
first
instance
,
to
the
Hôtel
Madagascar
.
Put
yourself
in
communication
with
Galipaud
,
who
is
there
on
duty
.
"
"
Would
it
not
be
sufficient
if
I
made
myself
known
to
M
.
Galipaud
?
"
suggested
the
Italian
.
"
I
have
seen
him
here
,
I
should
recognize
him
—
"
"
That
is
not
so
certain
;
he
may
have
changed
his
appearance
.
Besides
,
he
does
not
know
the
latest
developments
,
and
might
not
be
very
cordial
.
"
"
You
might
write
me
a
few
lines
to
take
to
him
.
"
"
I
think
not
.
We
prefer
to
send
Block
,
"
replied
the
Chief
,
briefly
and
decidedly
.
He
did
not
like
this
pertinacity
,
and
looked
at
his
colleagues
as
though
he
sought
their
concurrence
in
altering
the
arrangements
for
the
Italian
's
mission
.
It
might
be
wiser
to
detain
him
still
.
"
It
was
only
to
save
trouble
that
I
made
the
suggestion
,
"
hastily
put
in
Ripaldi
.
"
Naturally
I
am
in
your
hands
.
And
if
I
do
not
meet
with
the
maid
at
the
hotel
,
I
may
have
to
look
further
,
in
which
case
Monsieur
—
Block
?
thank
you
—
would
no
doubt
render
valuable
assistance
.
"
This
speech
restored
confidence
,
and
a
few
minutes
later
the
two
detectives
,
already
excellent
friends
from
the
freemasonry
of
a
common
craft
,
left
the
station
in
a
closed
cab
.
CHAPTER
IX
"
What
next
?
"
asked
the
Judge
.
"
That
pestilent
English
officer
,
if
you
please
,
M
.
le
Juge
,
"
said
the
detective
.
"
That
fire-eating
,
swashbuckling
soldier
,
with
his
blustering
barrack-room
ways
.
I
long
to
come
to
close
quarters
with
him
.
He
ridiculed
me
,
taunted
me
,
said
I
knew
nothing
—
we
will
see
,
we
will
see
.
"
"
In
fact
,
you
wish
to
interrogate
him
yourself
.
Very
well
.
Let
us
have
him
in
.
"
When
Sir
Charles
Collingham
entered
,
he
included
the
three
officials
in
one
cold
,
stiff
bow
,
waited
a
moment
,
and
then
,
finding
he
was
not
offered
a
chair
,
said
with
studied
politeness
:
"
I
presume
I
may
sit
down
?
"
"
Pardon
.
Of
course
;
pray
be
seated
,
"
said
the
Judge
,
hastily
,
and
evidently
a
little
ashamed
of
himself
.
"
Ah
!
thanks
.
Do
you
object
?
"
went
on
the
General
,
taking
out
a
silver
cigarette-case
.
"
May
I
offer
one
?
"
He
handed
round
the
box
affably
.
"
We
do
not
smoke
on
duty
,
"
answered
the
Chief
,
rudely
.
"
Nor
is
smoking
permitted
in
a
court
of
justice
.
"
"
Come
,
come
,
I
wish
to
show
no
disrespect
.
But
I
cannot
recognize
this
as
a
court
of
justice
,
and
I
think
,
if
you
will
forgive
me
,
that
I
shall
take
three
whiffs
.
It
may
help
me
keep
my
temper
.
"
He
was
evidently
making
game
of
them
.
There
was
no
symptom
remaining
of
the
recent
effervescence
when
he
was
acting
as
the
Countess
's
champion
,
and
he
was
perfectly
—
nay
,
insolently
calm
and
self-possessed
.
"
You
call
yourself
General
Collingham
?
"
went
on
the
Chief
.
"
I
do
not
call
myself
.
I
am
General
Sir
Charles
Collingham
,
of
the
British
Army
.
"
"
Retired
?
"
"
No
,
I
am
still
on
the
active
list
.
"
"
These
points
will
have
to
be
verified
.
"
"
With
all
my
heart
.
You
have
already
sent
to
the
British
Embassy
?
"
"
Yes
,
but
no
one
has
come
,
"
answered
the
detective
,
contemptuously
.
"
If
you
disbelieve
me
,
why
do
you
question
me
?
"
"
It
is
our
duty
to
question
you
,
and
yours
to
answer
.
If
not
,
we
have
means
to
make
you
.
You
are
suspected
,
inculpated
in
a
terrible
crime
,
and
your
whole
attitude
is
—
is
—
objectionable
—
unworthy
—
disgr
—
"
"
Gently
,
gently
,
my
dear
colleague
,
"
interposed
the
Judge
.
"
If
you
will
permit
me
,
I
will
take
up
this
.
And
you
,
M
.
le
Général
,
I
am
sure
you
cannot
wish
to
impede
or
obstruct
us
;
we
represent
the
law
of
this
country
.
"
"
Have
I
done
so
,
M
.
le
Juge
?
"
answered
the
General
,
with
the
utmost
courtesy
,
as
he
threw
away
his
half-burned
cigarette
.
"
No
,
no.
I
do
not
imply
that
in
the
least
.
I
only
entreat
you
,
as
a
good
and
gallant
gentleman
,
to
meet
us
in
a
proper
spirit
and
give
us
your
best
help
.
"
"
Indeed
,
I
am
quite
ready
.
If
there
has
been
any
unpleasantness
,
it
has
surely
not
been
of
my
making
,
but
rather
of
that
little
man
there
.
"
The
General
pointed
to
M
.
Floçon
rather
contemptuously
,
and
nearly
started
a
fresh
disturbance
.
"
Well
,
well
,
let
us
say
no
more
of
that
,
and
proceed
to
business
.
I
understand
,
"
said
the
Judge
,
after
fingering
a
few
pages
of
the
dispositions
in
front
of
him
,
"
that
you
are
a
friend
of
the
Contessa
di
Castagneto
?
Indeed
,
she
has
told
us
so
herself
.
"
"
It
was
very
good
of
her
to
call
me
her
friend
.
I
am
proud
to
hear
she
so
considers
me
.
"
"
How
long
have
you
known
her
?
"
"
Four
or
five
months
.
Since
the
beginning
of
the
last
winter
season
in
Rome
.
"
"
Did
you
frequent
her
house
?
"
"
If
you
mean
,
was
I
permitted
to
call
on
her
on
friendly
terms
,
yes
.
"
"
Did
you
know
all
her
friends
?
"
"
How
can
I
answer
that
?
I
know
whom
I
met
there
from
time
to
time
.
"
"
Exactly
.
Did
you
often
meet
among
them
a
Signor
—
Quadling
?
"
"
Quadling
—
Quadling
?
I
cannot
say
that
I
have
.
The
name
is
familiar
somehow
,
but
I
cannot
recall
the
man
.
"
"
Have
you
never
heard
of
the
Roman
bankers
,
Correse
+
Quadling
?
"
"
Ah
,
of
course
.
Although
I
have
had
no
dealing
with
them
.
Certainly
I
have
never
met
Mr.
Quadling
.
"
"
Not
at
the
Countess
's
?
"
"
Never
—
of
that
I
am
quite
sure
.
"
"
And
yet
we
have
had
positive
evidence
that
he
was
a
constant
visitor
there
.
"
"
It
is
perfectly
incomprehensible
to
me
.
Not
only
have
I
never
met
him
,
but
I
have
never
heard
the
Countess
mention
his
name
.
"
"
It
will
surprise
you
,
then
,
to
be
told
that
he
called
at
her
apartment
in
the
Via
Margutta
on
the
very
evening
of
her
departure
from
Rome
.
Called
,
was
admitted
,
was
closeted
with
her
for
more
than
an
hour
.
"
"
I
am
surprised
,
astounded
.
I
called
there
myself
about
four
in
the
afternoon
to
offer
my
services
for
the
journey
,
and
I
too
stayed
till
after
five
.
I
can
hardly
believe
it
.
"
"
I
have
more
surprises
for
you
,
General
.
What
will
you
think
when
I
tell
you
that
this
very
Quadling
—
this
friend
,
acquaintance
,
call
him
what
you
please
,
but
at
least
intimate
enough
to
pay
her
a
visit
on
the
eve
of
a
long
journey
—
was
the
man
found
murdered
in
the
sleeping-car
?
"
"
Can
it
be
possible
?
Are
you
sure
?
"
cried
Sir
Charles
,
almost
starting
from
his
chair
.
"
And
what
do
you
deduce
from
all
this
?
What
do
you
imply
?
An
accusation
against
that
lady
?
Absurd
!
"
"
I
respect
your
chivalrous
desire
to
stand
up
for
a
lady
who
calls
you
her
friend
,
but
we
are
officials
first
,
and
sentiment
cannot
be
permitted
to
influence
us
.
We
have
good
reasons
for
suspecting
that
lady
.
I
tell
you
that
frankly
,
and
trust
to
you
as
a
soldier
and
man
of
honour
not
to
abuse
the
confidence
reposed
in
you
.
"
"
May
I
not
know
those
reasons
?
"
"
Because
she
was
in
the
car
—
the
only
woman
,
you
understand
—
between
Laroche
and
Paris
.
"
"
Do
you
suspect
a
female
hand
,
then
?
"
asked
the
General
,
evidently
much
interested
and
impressed
.
"
That
is
so
,
although
I
am
exceeding
my
duty
in
revealing
this
.
"
"
And
you
are
satisfied
that
this
lady
,
a
refined
,
delicate
person
in
the
best
society
,
of
the
highest
character
,
—
believe
me
,
I
know
that
to
be
the
case
,
—
whom
you
yet
suspect
of
an
atrocious
crime
,
was
the
only
female
in
the
car
?
"
"
Obviously
.
Who
else
?
What
other
woman
could
possibly
have
been
in
the
car
?
No
one
got
in
at
Laroche
;
the
train
never
stopped
till
it
reached
Paris
.
"
"
On
that
last
point
at
least
you
are
quite
mistaken
,
I
assure
you
.
Why
not
upon
the
other
also
?
"
"
The
train
stopped
?
"
interjected
the
detective
.
"
Why
has
no
one
told
us
that
?
"
"
Possibly
because
you
never
asked
.
But
it
is
nevertheless
the
fact
.
Verify
it
.
Every
one
will
tell
you
the
same
.
"
The
detective
himself
hurried
to
the
door
and
called
in
the
porter
.
He
was
within
his
rights
,
of
course
,
but
the
action
showed
distrust
,
at
which
the
General
only
smiled
,
but
he
laughed
outright
when
the
still
stupid
and
half-dazed
porter
,
of
course
,
corroborated
the
statement
at
once
.
"
At
whose
instance
was
the
train
pulled
up
?
"
asked
the
detective
,
and
the
Judge
nodded
his
head
approvingly
.
To
know
that
would
fix
fresh
suspicion
.
But
the
porter
could
not
answer
the
question
.
Some
one
had
rung
the
alarm-bell
—
so
at
least
the
conductor
had
declared
;
otherwise
they
should
not
have
stopped
.
Yet
he
,
the
porter
,
had
not
done
so
,
nor
did
any
passenger
come
forward
to
admit
giving
the
signal
.
But
there
had
been
a
halt
.
Yes
,
assuredly
.
"
This
is
a
new
light
,
"
the
Judge
confessed
.
"
Do
you
draw
any
conclusion
from
it
?
"
he
went
on
to
ask
the
General
.
"
That
is
surely
your
business
.
I
have
only
elicited
the
fact
to
disprove
your
theory
.
But
if
you
wish
,
I
will
tell
you
how
it
strikes
me
.
"
The
Judge
bowed
assent
.
"
The
bare
fact
that
the
train
was
halted
would
mean
little
.
That
would
be
the
natural
act
of
a
timid
or
excitable
person
involved
indirectly
in
such
a
catastrophe
.
But
to
disavow
the
act
starts
suspicion
.
The
fair
inference
is
that
there
was
some
reason
,
an
unavowable
reason
,
for
halting
the
train
.
"
"
And
that
reason
would
be
—
"
"
You
must
see
it
without
my
assistance
,
surely
!
Why
,
what
else
but
to
afford
some
one
an
opportunity
to
leave
the
car
.
"
"
But
how
could
that
be
?
You
would
have
seen
that
person
,
some
of
you
,
especially
at
such
a
critical
time
.
The
aisle
would
be
full
of
people
,
both
exits
were
thus
practically
overlooked
.
"
"
My
idea
is
—
it
is
only
an
idea
,
understand
—
that
the
person
had
already
left
the
car
—
that
is
to
say
,
the
interior
of
the
car
.
"
"
Escaped
how
?
Where
?
What
do
you
mean
?
"
"
Escaped
through
the
open
window
of
the
compartment
where
you
found
the
murdered
man
.
"
"
You
noticed
the
open
window
,
then
?
"
quickly
asked
the
detective
.
"
When
was
that
?
"
"
Directly
I
entered
the
compartment
at
the
first
alarm
.
It
occurred
to
me
at
once
that
some
one
might
have
gone
through
it
.
