"And that, of course, would have justified his arrest?"

"Exactly. I proposed, directly we arrived in Paris, to claim the
assistance of your police and take him into custody. But his fate
interposed."

There was a pause, a long pause, for another important point had been
reached in the inquiry: the motive for the murder had been made clear,
and with it the presumption against the Countess gained terrible
strength.

But there was more, perhaps, to be got out of this dark-visaged Italian
detective, who had already proved so useful an ally.

"One or two words more," said the Judge to Ripaldi. "During the journey,
now, did you have any conversation with this Quadling?"

"None. He kept very much to himself."

"You saw him, I suppose, at the restaurants?"

"Yes, at Modane and Laroche."

"But did not speak to him?"

"Not a word."

"Had he any suspicion, do you think, as to who you were?"

"Why should he? He did not know me. I had taken pains he should never