"Where was Julie then?"

"I don't know. I did not see her. Perhaps upstairs, or maybe in the
front of the hall, waiting to bring me word to serve supper."

"Tell me something distinctive about this maid's appearance. Was she
good-looking?"

"Yes, a good-looking woman. But nothing especial about her. She had
many gold fillings in her teeth--"

"That's something," and Lowney noted it with satisfaction. "Go on."

But Luigi seemed to know nothing else that differentiated Julie from
her sisters in service, and Lowney changed his questions.

"How could Miss Van Allen get that knife of yours?" he asked.

"I don't know, sir. It was, I suppose, in the pantry, with our other
knives."

"What is its use?"

"It is a boning knife, but doubtless one of our men used it in cutting
celery for salad, or some such purpose."

"Ask them."

Inquiry showed that a man, named Palma, had used the knife for making