between two of the windows, peered through these same
unshuttered windows on to the dark stone balconies, then, baffled, his
eyes came back and fixed themselves on the American diplomatist's face.

A feeling of indescribable relief stole over Vanderlyn's wearied and yet
alert senses. It was clear that the Prefect of Police knew nothing of
the truth; the directness of his question proved it. Yet, even so,
Vanderlyn felt that he must steer his way very warily.

"You are in error," he said at last, "for you credit me, Monsieur le
Prefet, with a knowledge I do not possess."

"Ah!" said the other mildly, "that is most unfortunate!"

"May I, on my side, put to you a question to which I should be glad of
an honest answer?" said Vanderlyn abruptly. "Are you now engaged in
making a wide-spread enquiry among those who had the honour of this
lady's acquaintance?"

"No, Monsieur,"--the Prefect's manner showed an eager desire to be quite
frank,--"I am confining my personal enquiries to only two persons; that
is, to a certain Madame de Lera, to whom you will remember Mrs. Pargeter
was about to pay a visit at the moment she disappeared, and to
yourself."

Vanderlyn made a sudden nervous movement, but he checked the words which
rose to his lips, for the Prefect was again speaking, and this time with
a certain excitement of manner.

"I am convinced that Mrs. Pargeter never intended to go to Madame de
Lera, and that the proposed visit was a blind! The facts speak for
themselves. Madame de Lera had taken only one servant to the country,
and this servant, an old woman whom she has had with her many years, and
whom she can entirely trust, had no idea that her mistress was expecting
a visitor! I repeat--that no preparations for Mrs. Pargeter's arrival
had been made at Marly-le-Roi. It is my belief--nay, my conviction--that
Madame de Lera knows perfectly well where her friend is now concealed."

It was then that Vanderlyn committed what was perhaps the only mistake
he was destined to commit during this difficult interview. "Has Madame
de Lera made any such admission?" he asked quickly.

"No," answered the Prefect, looking at him thoughtfully, "Madame de Lera
has made no admission; but then I have learned, through long experience,
never to believe, where there is a friend in the case, what a lady tells
me. Women of the world, my dear sir, are more loyal the one to the other
than we men may choose to believe!"

"And men, Monsieur? Ar