M. Floçon, still obdurate, would not even consent to that.

"I fear, madame, that for the present at least you cannot be allowed to
communicate with any one, not even with your maid."

"But she is not implicated; she was not in the car. I have not seen her
since--"

"Since?" repeated M. Floçon, after a pause.

"Since last night, at Amberieux, about eight o'clock. She helped me to
undress, and saw me to bed. I sent her away then, and said I should not
need her till we reached Paris. But I want her now, indeed I do."

"She did not come to you at Laroche?"

"No. Have I not said so? The porter,"--here she pointed to the man, who
stood staring at her from the other side of the table,--"he made
difficulties about her being in the car, saying that she came too often,
stayed too long, that I must pay for her berth, and so on. I did not
see why I should do that; so she stayed away."

"Except from time to time?"

"Precisely."

"And the last time was at Amberieux?"

"As I have told you, and he will tell you the same."