ere, not in the
presence of a judge, and of enemies, but amidst friends who wish you
nothing but good.... I understand your affectionate feelings, I know
what an unreasoning, but quite natural, attachment you have for your
unfortunate brother--but, mademoiselle, it is now imperatively necessary
that you should do violence to yourself--you must tell us the truth, the
whole truth!"

Interrupting his appeal to Elizabeth, Fandor turned to the magistrate
with a smile so enigmatic that his audience could not tell whether he
was speaking sincerely or was acting a part.

"I have contended in my articles up to now that Jacques Dollon was dead,
dead beyond recall; but when confronted with recent facts my theory
seems to fall to the ground." Fandor turned once more to Elizabeth,
resuming his authoritative tone and manner: "Since the affair of the
Depot, the legal authorities have recognised indelible traces of Jacques
Dollon's hand in the series of crimes which have been recently
perpetrated. Up to the present, I have determinedly denied such a
possibility. But, mademoiselle, I put it to you: you have forgotten to
tell us something of the very utmost importance, something quite out of
the range of ordinary happenings, something phenomenal. Now here is the
staggering fact I am faced with! The other day, between two and three in
the afternoon, at the Auteuil boarding-house where you are staying, you
received a visit from your brother, Jacques Dollon, the supposed robber
of the Princess Sonia Danidoff's pearls, the suspected author of the
robbery of rue du Quatre Septembre; and, lastly, the fratricide, for
what other explanation of the attack on you can be given--an attempted
murder beyond question--and I add ..." Fandor could not continue. His
eyes were fixed on those of Elizabeth who, at the first words addressed
to her by the journalist, had started up, trembling from head to
foot.... Their glances met, challenging, each seeking to quell, to
subjugate the other.... It seemed to the onlookers that they were
witnessing an intense struggle between two very strong natures separated
by a deep, a fathomless gulf; that a veil, dark as night, hanging
between them had been rent asunder, giving passage to an illuminating
flash; that this luminous ray carried with it all the revelations and
the key to the fantastic mystery!

But to a calm, perspicacious observer of the two beings standing face to
face, it would have been clear that Jerome