"I'm sure that wasn't one man's job," said Guerchard, looking at her
vigorous figure with admiring eyes.

"You may be sure of that," said Victoire. "It took four of them; and at
least two of them have some nice bruises on their shins to show for it."

"I'm sure they have. And it serves them jolly well right," said
Guerchard, in a tone of warm approval. "And, I suppose, while those
four were tying you up the others stood round and looked on."

"Oh, no, they were far too busy for that," said Victoire.

"What were they doing?" said Guerchard.

"They were taking the pictures off the walls and carrying them out of
the window down the ladder," said Victoire.

Guerchard's eyes flickered towards the Duke, but the expression of
earnest inquiry on his face never changed.

"Now, tell me, did the man who took a picture from the walls carry it
down the ladder himself, or did he hand it through the window to a man
who was standing on the top of a ladder ready to receive it?" he said.

Victoire paused as if to recall their action; then she said, "Oh, he
got through the window, and carried it down the ladder himself."

"You're sure of that?" said Guerchard.

"Oh, yes, I am quite sure of it--why should I deceive you, Mr.
Inspector?" said Victoire quickly; and the Duke saw the first shadow of
uneasiness on her face.

"Of course not," said Guerchard. "And where were you?"

"Oh, they put me behind the screen."

"No, no, where were you when you came into the room?"

"I was against the door," said Victoire.

"And where was the screen?" said Guerchard. "Was it before the
fireplace?"

"No; it was on one side--the left-hand side," said Victoire.

"Oh, will you show me exactly where it stood?" said Guerchard.

Victoire rose, and, Guerchard aiding her, set the screen on the
left-hand side of the fireplace.

Guerchard stepped back and looked at it.

"Now, this is very important," he said. "I must have the exact position
of the four feet of that screen. Let's see ... some chalk ... of
course.... You do some dressmaking, don't you, Madame Victoire?"

"Oh, yes, I sometimes make a dress for one of the maids in my spare
time," said Victoire.

"Then you've got a piece of chalk on you," said Guerchard.

"Oh, yes," said Victoire, putting her hand to the pocket of her dress.

She paused, took a step backwards, and looked wildly round the room,
while the colour slowly faded in her ruddy cheeks.

"What am I talking about?" sh