e, what is it you want?"

Madame Citron recognized Fandor. But she recognized him as being some
one he was not. She had, indeed, only seen him for a few moments
immediately after the murder of Susy d'Orsel.

"I want to see Mlle. Marie Pascal. She lives here, doesn't she?"

"Yes, Monsieur, but ..."

"Is she at home?"

"What is it about?"

Fandor answered casually:

"I have an order to give her."

"Then, if Monsieur will leave it with me..."

"Why? Isn't Mlle. Marie Pascal here?"

"No, Monsieur."

"Will she be long away?"

"I'm afraid she will."

"All right, I'll come back about six o'clock. I must see her personally,
I have a number of details to explain."

Mme. Ceiron shook her head.

"I don't think you'll find her."

"Why not?"

"Well, she's in the country."

"Will she be away for several days?"

"I expect so."

Fandor decided to burn his bridges.

"Look here, it's not about an order; I'm sent here by Juve, you know
him?"

"The detective?"

"Yes, Madame, the detective."

Madame Ceiron appeared to be very disturbed.

"Oh! I shall get jaundice from all this bother. I can't even sleep in
peace. It'll end in them suspecting me, I know it will."

"No, no, Madame, I assure you...."

"After all, I'd rather tell you the exact truth, then you can't complain
of me. You see, it's this way: Yesterday the little girl came and said
to me, 'Madame Ceiron, I'm so upset and unhappy, and I'm bothered to
death with questions, too, and then, this King who isn't a King ... I've
a good mind to pack my trunk and go away.' So I said to her, if that's
the case, go by all means--she had paid a quarter's advance--and when
you are ready just come back--and that's all there is to it, Monsieur."

"You have no idea where she went, Mme. Ceiron?"

"Well, I heard her tell the cab-driver to take her to the Montparnasse
Station."

"Do you know if she has any friends or relations in the country?"

"Ah!--that's a good idea, Monsieur, now I come to think of it, she
always went on her holidays from the same station, probably to visit
some of her family, but where they live I haven't the least idea."

Fandor had an inspiration.

"Maybe she has received letters which will tell us! Have you the key of
her room?"

"Yes, I have the key; would you like to go up?"

"Of course!--I must make a search through her belongings."

* * * * *

Jerome Fandor felt strangely agitated in entering