This woman has been murdered ... or rather ... has not been
murdered ... you understand, Juve, has not been murdered."

"Has not been murdered, very well!"

"Now, this woman who has not been murdered threw herself out of the
window last night at three o'clock; in a word, she committed suicide, at
the precise moment when Frederick-Christian was taking supper with
her ... you grasp my meaning?"

"No, I don't. What are you trying to get at?"

"Why, it's as clear as day, Juve ... the scandal! especially as the
local magistrate had the stupidity to arrest the King."

"The King has been arrested ... I don't understand! Then it wasn't
suicide?"

"That is what must be established."

"And I am to take charge of the investigation?"

"I put it in your hands."

When M. Vicart had explained the circumstances of the case, Juve summed
up:

"In a word, Frederick-Christian II went to see his mistress last night,
she threw herself out of the window, the King was arrested for murder;
he put in a denial, claiming that a third person was present, this third
person escaped, an inadmissible hypothesis, since nobody saw him and the
door to the servant's staircase was locked ... this morning the King was
set at liberty, and we have now to find out whether a crime was really
committed or whether it was a case of suicide.... Is that it?"

"That is it! But you're going ahead pretty fast. You don't realize,
Juve, the seriousness of the supposition you formulate so freely.... You
must know whether it's murder or suicide! Of course! Of course!... but
you are too precise.... A King a murderer ... that isn't possible. There
would be terrible diplomatic complications.... It's a case of
suicide.... Susy d'Orsel committed suicide beyond a doubt."

Juve smiled slightly.

"That has to be proved, hasn't it?"

"Certainly it must be proved. The accident happened at number 247 Rue de
Monceau. Go there, question the concierge ... the only witness.... In a
word, bring us the proof of suicide in written form. We can then send a
report to the press and stifle the threatened scandal."

Juve rose.

"I will begin an immediate investigation," he replied, smiling, "and M.
Vicart, you may depend upon me to use all means in my power to clear up
the affair ... entirely and impartially."

When Juve had gone, M. Vicart realized a sense of extreme uneasiness.

"Impartially!... the deuce!"

Hurriedly he left his office and made his way through the halls