"What can have become of her?" said the Judge.

"Would M. le Juge like me to go in search of her? That is, if you have
no more questions to ask, no wish to detain me further?"

"We will consider that, and let you know in a moment, if you will wait
outside."

And then, when alone, the officials deliberated.

It was a good offer, the man knew her appearance, he was in possession
of all the facts, he could be trusted--

"Ah, but can he, though?" queried the detective. "How do we know he has
told us truth? What guarantee have we of his loyalty, his good faith?
What if he is also concerned in the crime--has some guilty knowledge?
What if he killed Quadling himself, or was an accomplice before or after
the fact?"

"All these are possibilities, of course, but--pardon me, dear
colleague--a little far-fetched, eh?" said the Judge. "Why not utilize
this man? If he betrays us--serves us ill--if we had reason to lay hands
on him again, he could hardly escape us."

"Let him go, and send some one with him," said the Commissary, the first
practical suggestion he had yet made.

"Excellent!" cried the Judge. "You have another man here, Chief; let him
go with this Italian."