and Laroche."

"But did not speak to him?"

"Not a word."

"Had he any suspicion, do you think, as to who you were?"

"Why should he? He did not know me. I had taken pains he should never
see me."

"Did he speak to any other passenger?"

"Very little. To the Countess. Yes, once or twice, I think, to her
maid."

"Ah! that maid. Did you notice her at all? She has not been seen. It is
strange. She seems to have disappeared."

"To have run away, in fact?" suggested Ripaldi, with a queer smile.

"Well, at least she is not here with her mistress. Can you offer any
explanation of that?"

"She was perhaps afraid. The Countess and she were very good friends, I
think. On better, more familiar terms, than is usual between mistress
and maid."

"The maid knew something?"

"Ah, monsieur, it is only an idea. But I give it you for what it is
worth."

"Well, well, this maid--what was she like?"

"Tall, dark, good-looking, not too reserved. She made other friends--the
porter and the English Colonel. I saw the last speaking to her. I spoke
to her myself."

"What can have become of her?" said the Judge.

"Would M. le Juge like me to go in search of her? That is, if you have
no more questions to ask, no wish to detain me further?"

"We will consider that, and let you know in a moment, if you will wait
outside."

And then, when alone, the officials deliberated.

It was a good offer, the man knew her appearance, he was in possession
of all the facts, he could be trusted--

"Ah, but can he, though?" queried the detective. "How do we know he has
told us truth? What guarantee have we of his loyalty, his good faith?
What if he is also concerned in the crime--has some guilty knowledge?
What if he killed Quadling himself, or was an accomplice before or after
the fact?"

"All these are possibilities, of course, but--pardon me, dear
colleague--a little far-fetched, eh?" said the Judge. "Why not utilize
this man? If he betrays us--serves us ill--if we had reason to lay hands
on him again, he could hardly escape us."

"Let him go, and send some one with him," said the Commissary, the first
practical suggestion he had yet made.

"Excellent!" cried the Judge. "You have another man here, Chief; let him
go with this Italian."

They called in Ripaldi and told him, "We will accept your services,
monsieur, and you can begin your search at once. In what direction do
you propose to begin?"

"Where has her mistress gone?"

"