ng against the stove. When
George returned with a large basket, Nanette had calmed herself
sufficiently to go about the unpacking of the articles in the hamper.

"George, won't you please keep Lena out in the kitchen. Ask her to make
some tea for us," asked Nanette with well feigned assurance. George
smiled a meaning smile and disappeared.

"I am particularly interested in the dead lady's gloves," said the
peddler when they were alone again.

Nanette looked at him in surprise but was still too frightened to offer
any remarks. She opened several boxes and packages and laid a number of
pairs of gloves on the table. The old man looked through them, turning
them over carefully. Then he shook his head: "There must be some more
somewhere," he said. Nanette was no longer astonished at anything he
might say or do, so she obediently went through the basket again and
found a little box in which were several pair of grey suede gloves,
fastened by bluish mother-of-pearl buttons. One of the pairs had been
worn, and a button was missing.

"These are the ones I was looking for," said the peddler, putting the
gloves in his pocket. Then he continued: "Your mistress was rather fond
of taking long walks by herself, wasn't she?"

The girl's pale face flushed hotly and she stammered: "You know--about
it?"

"You know about it also, I see. And did you know everything?"

"Yes, everything," murmured Nanette.

"Then it was you and Tristan who accompanied the lady on her walks?"

"Yes."

"I supposed she must have taken some one into her confidence. Well, and
what do you think about the murder?"

"The Professor?" replied Nanette hastily. "Why, what should I know about
it?"

"The Councillor was greatly excited and very unhappy when he discovered
this affair, I suppose?"

"He is still."

"And how did he act after the--let us call it the accident?"

"He was like a crazy man."

"They tell me that he went about his duties just the same--that he went
away on business."

"It wasn't business this time, at least not professional business. But
before that he did have to go away frequently for weeks at a time."

"And it was then that your mistress was most interested in her lonely
walks, eh?"

"Yes." Nanette's voice was so low as to be scarcely heard.

"Well, and this time?" continued the peddler. "Why did he go away this
time?"

"He went to the capital on private business of his own."

"Are you sure of that?"

"Quite sure. He