e man? But, Mademoiselle, you know Susy d'Orsel was alone with the
King, so that man must be the King."

Marie Pascal gave a dubious shrug.

"You know the King?" Juve asked.

"Yes, I sold him laces. I saw him through an open door."

"And you are not sure that he is or is not the murderer?"

"No, I don't know, that's why I've said nothing about it. I'm not sure
of anything."

"Pardon, Mademoiselle, but it seems to me you don't quite grasp the
situation ... what is it you are not sure of?"

"Whether it was the King who killed poor Mlle. Susy."

"But you are sure it was a man who killed Mlle. d'Orsel?"

"Yes, Monsieur ... and I am also sure it was a thin, tall man ... in
fact, some one of the same build as the King."

"Well, Mademoiselle, I cannot see why you have kept this knowledge to
yourself, it is most important, for it does away with the theory of
suicide, it proves that a crime has been committed."

"Yes, but if it wasn't the King, it would be terrible to suspect him
unjustly ... that is what stopped me ..."

"It must no longer stop you. If the King is a murderer, he must be
punished like any other man; if he is innocent, the guilty man must be
caught. You haven't spoken of this to the concierge?"

Marie Pascal smiled.

"No, Monsieur, Mme. Ceiron is rather a gossip."

"I understand, but now you need keep silence no longer; in fact, I
should be glad if you would spread your news ... talk of it freely and
I, on my side, will notify my chief.... I may add that we shall not be
long in clearing up this mystery."

Juve had a reason for giving this advice. The more gossip, the less
chance would the police department have to stifle the investigation.

* * * * *

Marie Pascal slept badly that night. She was too intelligent not to
realize that her deposition had convinced Juve of the guilt of the King,
and this troubled her greatly. She, herself, was persuaded that she had
seen the King throw Susy out of the window, although she had had no time
to identify him positively and the young girl was alarmed at the
importance of her testimony.

However, she determined to follow Juve's advice and spread the gossip.
With that purpose she went down to see Mother Ceiron. As the concierge
was not in her room she called through the hallway:

"Madame Ceiron!... Madame Ceiron!"

A man's voice answered and a laundryman came downstairs carrying a
basket.

"The concierge is on the sixt