er.

"Well, gentlemen, I was now satisfied in my own mind that this was
some artful attempt of his to communicate with the lady, and had
she fallen in with it, I should have immediately informed you,
the proper authorities. But whether from stupidity, dread,
disinclination, a direct, definite refusal to have any dealings
with this man, the lady would not--at any rate did not--pick up
the ball, as she might have done easily when she in her turn
passed the table on her way to your presence.

"I have no doubt it was thrown there for her, and probably you
will agree with me. But it takes two to make a game of this sort,
and the lady would not join. Neither on leaving the room nor on
returning would she take up the missive."

"And what became of it, then?" asked the detective in breathless
excitement. "I have it here." M. Devaux opened the palm of his
hand and displayed the scrap of paper in the hollow rolled up into
a small tight ball.

"When and how did you become possessed of it?"

"I got it only just now, when I was called in here. Before that I
could not move. I was tied to my chair, practically, and ordered
strictly not to move."

"Perfectly. Monsieur's conduct has been admirable. And now tell
us--what does it contain? Have you looked at it?"

"By no means. It is just as I picked it up. Will you gentlemen
take it, and if you think fit, tell me what is there? Some
writing--a message of some sort, or I am greatly mistaken."

"Yes, here are words written in pencil," said the detective,
unrolling the paper, which he handed on to the Judge, who read the
contents aloud--

"Be careful. Say nothing. If you betray me, you will be lost too."

A long silence followed, broken first by the Judge, who said at
last solemnly to Devaux:

"Monsieur, in the name of justice I beg to thank you most warmly.
You have acted with admirable tact and judgment, and have rendered
us invaluable assistance. Have you anything further to tell us?"

"No, gentlemen. That is all. And you--you have no more questions
to ask? Then I presume I may withdraw?"

Beyond doubt it had been reserved for the last witness to produce
facts that constituted the very essence of the inquiry.

CHAPTER XIII

The examination was now over, and, the dispositions having been
drawn up and signed, the investigating officials remained for some
time in conference.

"It lies with those three, of course--the two women and the
Italian. They are jointly, conjo