d
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,