called upon her."

"La Castagneto! Do you mean the Countess of that name, who was a
passenger in the sleeper?"

"Beyond doubt! it is she I mean." The officials looked at each other
eagerly, and M. Beaumont le Hardi quickly turned over the sheets on
which the Countess's evidence was recorded.

She had denied acquaintance with this murdered man, Quadling, and here
was positive evidence that they were on intimate terms!

"He was at her house on the very day we all left Rome--in the evening,
towards dusk. The Countess had an apartment in the Via Margutta, and
when he left her he returned to his own place in the Condotti, entered
the bank, stayed half an hour, then came out with one hand-bag and rug,
called a cab, and was driven straight to the railway station."

"And you followed?"

"Of course. When I saw him walk straight to the sleeping-car, and ask
the conductor for 7 and 8, I knew that his plans had been laid, and that
he was on the point of leaving Rome secretly. When, presently, La
Castagneto also arrived, I concluded that she was in his confidence, and
that possibly they were eloping together."

"Why did you not arrest him?"

"I had no authority, even if I had had the time. Although I was ordered
to watch the Signor Quadling, I had no warrant for his arrest. But I