what you yourself do. If you furnish me with full and complete
information in regard to this nefarious business, in which I am afraid
you have been a participator, as well as a victim, I will consent to
your remaining where you are, under the superintendence of the police,
of which this gentleman is a Commissary."

"O, I have been a victim, indeed," answered Mrs. Ayliffe, weeping. "I
declare I have not had a moment's peace, or a morsel fit to eat since I
have been in this outlandish country, and I can hardly get any body, not
even a servant girl, who understands a word of English, to speak to."

Marlow thought that he saw an inclination to evade the point of his
questions, in order to gain time for consideration, and the Commissary
thought so too: though both of them were, I believe, mistaken; for
collaterality, if I may use such a word, was a habit of the poor woman's
mind.

The Commissary interrupted her somewhat sharply in her catalogue of the
miseries of France, by saying, "I will beg you to give me your keys,
madame, for we must have a visitation of your papers."

"My keys, my keys!" she said, putting her hands in the large pockets
then worn. "I am sure I do not know what I have done with them, or where
they are."

"O, we will soon find keys that will open any thing," replied the
Commissary. "There are plenty of hammers in St. Germain."

"Stay, stay a moment," said Marlow; "I think Mrs. Ayliffe will save us
the trouble of taking any harsh steps."

"O yes, don't; I will do any thing you please," she said, earnestly.

"Well then, madame," said Marlow, "will you have the goodness to state
to this gentleman, who will take down your words, and afterwards
authenticate the statement, what is your real name, and your ordinary
place of residence in England?"

She hesitated, and he added more sternly, "You may answer or not, as you
like, madame; we have proof by the evidence of Mr. Atkinson here, who
has known you so many years, that you are living now in France, when
your son made affidavit that you were dead. That is the principal point;
but at the same time I warn you, that if you do not frankly state the
truth in every particular, I must demand that you be removed to
England."

"I will indeed," she said, "I will indeed;" and raising her eyes to the
face of the Commissary, of whom she seemed to stand in great dread, she
stated truly her name and place of abode, adding, "I would not, indeed I
would not have tak