against this particular lady, he stiffened and said severely, "I am
responsible for my conduct to my superiors, and not to you. Besides, you
appear to forget your position. You are here, detained--all of you"--he
spoke to the whole room--"under suspicion. A ghastly crime has been
perpetrated--by some one among you--"

"Do not be too sure of that," interposed the irrepressible General.

"Who else could be concerned? The train never stopped after leaving
Laroche," said the detective, allowing himself to be betrayed into
argument.

"Yes, it did," corrected Sir Charles, with a contemptuous laugh; "shows
how much you know."

Again the Chief looked unhappy. He was on dangerous ground, face to face
with a new fact affecting all his theories,--if fact it was, not mere
assertion, and that he must speedily verify. But nothing was to be
gained--much, indeed, might be lost--by prolonging this discussion in
the presence of the whole party. It was entirely opposed to the French
practice of investigation, which works secretly, taking witnesses
separately, one by one, and strictly preventing all intercommunication
or collusion among them.

"What I know or do not know is my affair," he said, with an indifference
he did not feel. "I shall call upon you, M. le Général, for your
statement in due course, and that of the others." He bowed stiffly to
the whole room. "Every one must be interrogated. M. le Juge is now here,
and he proposes to begin, madame, with you."