"Last night. I think at Amberieux. about 8 p.m."

"Not this morning?"

"No, sir, I am quite sure of that."

"Not at Laroche? She did not come on board to stay, for the last stage,
when her mistress would be getting up, dressing, and likely to require
her?"

"No; I should not have permitted it."

"And where is the maid now, d'you suppose?"

The porter looked at him with an air of complete imbecility.

"She is surely somewhere near, in or about the station. She would hardly
desert her mistress now," he said, stupidly, at last.

"At any rate we can soon settle that." The Chief turned to one of his
assistants, both of whom had been standing behind him all the time, and
said:

"Step out, Galipaud, and see. No, wait. I am nearly as stupid as this
simpleton. Describe this maid."

"Tall and slight, dark-eyed, very black hair. Dressed all in black,
plain black bonnet. I cannot remember more."