dence, more definite
evidence, perhaps?" The Judge was musing over the facts as he knew them.
"I should like, before going further, to look at the car," he said,
suddenly coming to a conclusion.

M. Flocon readily agreed. "We will go together," he said, adding,
"Madame will remain here, please, until we return. It may not be for
long."

"And afterwards?" asked the Countess, whose nervousness had if anything
increased during the whispered colloquy of the officials.

"Ah, afterwards! Who knows?" was the reply, with a shrug of the
shoulders, all most enigmatic and unsatisfactory.

"What have we against her?" said the Judge, as soon as they had gained
the absolute privacy of the sleeping-car.

"The bottle of laudanum and the porter's condition. He was undoubtedly
drugged," answered the detective; and the discussion which followed took
the form of a dialogue between them, for the Commissary took no part in
it.

"Yes; but why by the Countess? How do we know that positively?"

"It is her bottle," said M. Flocon.

"Her story may be true--that she missed it, that the maid took it."

"We have nothing whatever against the maid. We know nothing about her."

"No. Except that she has disappeared. But that tells more against her
mistress. It is all very vague. I do not see my way quite, as yet."

"But the fragment of lace, the broken beading? Surely, M. le Juge, they
are a woman's, and only one woman was in the car--"

"So far as we know."

"But if these could be proved to be hers?"

"Ah! if you could prove that!"

"Easy enough. Have her searched, here at once, in the station. There is
a female searcher attached to the detention-room."

"It is a strong measure. She is a lady."

"Ladies who commit crimes must not expect to be handled with kid
gloves."

"She is an Englishwoman, or with English connections; titled, too. I
hesitate, upon my word. Suppose we are wrong? It may lead to
unpleasantness. M. le Prefet is anxious to avoid complications possibly
international."

As he spoke, he bent over, and, taking a magnifier from his pocket,
examined the lace, which still fluttered where it was caught.

"It is fine lace, I think. What say you, M. Flocon? You may be more
experienced in such matters."

"The finest, or nearly so; I believe it is Valenciennes--the trimming of
some underclothing, I should think. That surely is sufficient, M. le
Juge?"

M. Beaumont le Hardi gave a reluctant consent, and the Chief went ba