"As to that I cannot say."

"Come, come, General, you were with her constantly; you must be able to
tell us. We insist on being told." This fiercely, from the now jubilant
M. Floçon.

"I repeat that I cannot say. To the best of my recollection, the
Countess wore a long travelling cloak--an ulster, as we call them. The
jacket with those bead ornaments may have been underneath. But if I have
seen them,--as I believe I have,--it was not during this journey."

Here the Judge whispered to M. Floçon, "The searcher did not discover
any second mantle."

"How do we know the woman examined thoroughly?" he replied. "Here, at
least, is direct evidence as to the beads. At last the net is drawing
round this fine Countess."

"Well, at any rate," said the detective aloud, returning to the General,
"these beads were found in the compartment of the murdered man. I
should like that explained, please."

"By me? How can I explain it? And the fact does not bear upon what we
were considering, as to whether any one had left the car."

"Why not?"

"The Countess, as we know, never left the car. As to her entering this
particular compartment,--at any previous time,--it is highly improbable.