Part 25 (2/2)

This was a blow, and a heavy one; but I wouldn't let G.o.densky see that I winced under it.

”You keep yourself singularly well-informed of the movements of your various proteges,” I said--”as well as those of your enemies. But if the information in the one case is no more trustworthy than in the other--why, you're not faithfully served. I've good reason to know that you've made several mistakes lately, and you're likely to make more.”

”Thanks for the warning. But I hope you don't call yourself my 'enemy'?”

”I don't know of a more appropriate name--after the baseness that you haven't even tried to hide, in your dealings with me.”

”I thought all was fair in love and war.”

”Do you make war on women?”

”No--I make love to them.”

”To many, I dare say. But here is one who won't listen.”

”At least you will listen while I go on with the news I came to tell?”

”Oh, yes, I confess to being curious. No doubt what you say will be interesting--even if not accurate.”

”I can promise that it shall be both. I called on Lenormand as soon as I learned what had happened--that he'd been mixed up in this case--and expressed myself as extremely concerned for the fate of his client, friends of whom were intimate friends of mine. So you see, there was no question of treachery on Lenormand's part. He trusts me--as you do not.

Indeed, I even offered my help for Dundas, if I could give it consistently with my position. Naturally, he told me nothing which could be used against Dundas, so far as he knew, even if I wished to go against him--which my coming here ought to prove to you that I do not.”

”I read the proof rather differently,” I said. ”But go on. I'm sure you are anxious to tell me certain things. Please come to the point.”

”In a few words, then, the point is this: One of the most important questions put by the Juge d'Instruction, after hearing from Mr. Dundas the explanation of a doc.u.ment found on him by the police--ah, that wakes you up, Mademoiselle! You are surprised that a doc.u.ment was found on the prisoner?”

I was half fainting with fear lest Ivor had regained the treaty, only to lose it again in this dreadful way; but I controlled myself.

”I rather hope it was not a letter from me,” I said. ”You know so much, that you probably know I admitted to the police at the elysee Palace a strong friends.h.i.+p for Mr. Dundas. We knew each other well in London. But London ways are different from the ways of Paris. It isn't agreeable to be gossipped about, however unjustly, even if one is--only an actress.”

”You turn things cleverly, as always. Yes, you are afraid there might have been--a letter. Yet the public adores you. It would pardon you any indiscretion, especially a romantic one--any indiscretion _except treachery_. There might, however, be a few persons less indulgent. Du Laurier, for instance.”

I s.h.i.+vered. ”We were speaking of the scene with the Juge d'Instruction,”

I reminded him. ”You have wandered from the point again.”

”There are so many points--all sharp as swords for those they may pierce. Well, the important question was in relation to a letter--yes.

But the letter was not from you, Mademoiselle. It was written in English, and it made an appointment at the very address where the crime was committed. It was, as nearly as I could make out, a request from a person calling himself a jeweller's a.s.sistant, for the receiver of the letter to call and return a case containing jewels. This case had been committed to Mr. Dundas' care, it appeared, while travelling from London to Paris, and without his knowledge, another packet being taken away to make room for this. Mr. Dundas replied to the Juge d'Instruction that his own packet, stolen from him on the journey, contained nothing but papers _entirely personal,_ concerning himself alone.

”'What was in the case which the man afterwards murdered slipped into your pocket?' asked the Juge d'Instruction--Lenormand tells me.

”'A necklace,' answered Mr. Dundas.

”'A necklace of diamonds?'

”'Possibly diamonds, possibly paste, I wasn't much interested in it.'

”'Ah, was this not the necklace which you--staying at the elysee Palace under another name--gave to Mademoiselle Maxine de Renzie last evening?'

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