kinned; but her complexion was of a
clear, pale olive, and as soft, as lustrous as pure ivory. Her great
eyes, of a deep velvety brown, were saddened by near tears. She had rich
red lips, the only colour in her face, and these, habitually slightly
apart, showed pearly-white glistening teeth.

It was difficult to look at this charming woman without being affected
by her beauty. M. Flocon was a Frenchman, gallant and impressionable;
yet he steeled his heart. A detective must beware of sentiment, and he
seemed to see something insidious in this appeal, which he resented.

"Madame, it is useless," he answered gruffly. "I do not make the law; I
have only to support it. Every good citizen is bound to that."

"I trust I am a good citizen," said the Countess, with a wan smile, but
very wearily. "Still, I should wish to be let off now. I have suffered
greatly, terribly, by this horrible catastrophe. My nerves are quite
shattered. It is too cruel. However, I can say no more, except to ask
that you will let my maid come to me."

M. Flocon, still obdurate, would not even consent to that.

"I fear, madame, that for the present at least you cannot be allowed to
communicate with any one, not even with your maid."

"But she is not implicated; she was not in the car. I have not seen her
since--"

"Since?" repeated M. Flocon, after a pause.

"Since last night, at Amberieux, about eight o'clock. She helped me to
undress, and saw me to bed. I sent her away then, and said I should not
need her till we reached Paris. But I want her now, indeed I do."

"She did not come to you at Laroche?"

"No. Have I not said so? The porter,"--here she pointed to the man, who
stood staring at her from the other side of the table,--"he made
difficulties about her being in the car, saying that she came too often,
stayed too long, that I must pay for her berth, and so on. I did not
see why I should do that; so she stayed away."

"Except from time to time?"

"Precisely."

"And the last time was at Amberieux?"

"As I have told you, and he will tell you the same."

"Thank you, madame, that will do." The Chief rose from his chair,
plainly intimating that the interview was at an end.

CHAPTER IV

He had other work to do, and was eager to get at it. So he left Block to
show the Countess back to the waiting-room, and, motioning to the porter
that he might also go, the Chief hastened to the sleeping-car, the
examination of which, too long delaye