and Marie
Pascal were searching anxiously and nervously through all the girl's
belongings.

When she left the Royal Palace Hotel, Marie Pascal had gone directly to
Police Headquarters, where she had found Juve. After telling him the
history of the chemise fallen from the Marquis de Serac's laundry, she
had repeated all the details of her interview with the King and the
advice he had given her.

"His Majesty Frederick-Christian was certainly wise in sending you
here," he replied; "to begin with, it proves most conclusively that he
has every intention of denying the crime of which you accused him
yesterday, and of which you no longer accuse him to-day."

Marie Pascal protested: "I never accused him!"

"It amounted to the same thing, for the man you say threw Susy d'Orsel
out of the window could only be the King, since he was alone with his
mistress.... Now we get the further evidence of the chemise found by you
quite by chance ... and by sending you to me His Majesty explicitly
accuses a woman, the woman to whom that chemise belonged--of having
killed Susy d'Orsel."

"The first thing to be done, Mademoiselle, is to go to your room and
have a look at this garment. The Marquis de Serac himself is away, and
besides, his reputation is well known. Therefore, we cannot accuse him.
If the chemise was found among his laundry it would imply that the
murderer, taken by surprise, hid himself in the Marquis's apartment and
either changed his clothes there or dropped the chemise into the
Marquis's laundry-bag on purpose to create a false scent."

Without further words, Juve and the young girl drove to Rue de Monceau
to examine the chemise which she had found that morning. Marie Pascal
unlocked her door; a few moments later started in amazement. The chemise
had disappeared. Afterward Juve began to wonder whether Marie Pascal
had spoken the truth or whether it was a put-up story between herself
and the King.

"There's no use looking any further," he cried, "some one has stolen
it."

"But it's terrible," replied Marie Pascal. "It is the only evidence that
would clear the King. The only proof that he is not guilty. How can
anyone be sure that I really found the chemise?"

Juve nodded. "That's what I have been asking myself, Mademoiselle."

"Oh, what can be done?"

The anxiety of the young girl interested Juve keenly.

"It's very annoying, Mademoiselle. But, after all, it only affects you
indirectly. The King will have to