The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-18
Eyes, but it is blocked up"
should lie IN Sce n -


at once remarked that the window
was only blocked half way by a
chest, which, besides, did not abso-
lutely touch the easements
ut is close enough up to prevent its
beng moved without making a great
deal of noise"
What does the window look out
ON"
"On small inner yard"
And you have another floor above
I this"
Two; but at the level Of the ser
wants floor the yard i protected by
I clOSe-railed grating Tha. is what
INA kes the light SO bad"
! Moreover, when they moved the
chest they found that the window
was latched, which would have been
impossible if any one had entered
! from the outside
UNLESS" said the count, "hc went
| out through orr room.
+ In which case YOU would not
have found the door boltcd in the
morning"
| The commis>ary reflected for mo-
ment, and then, turning to the
countess. asked:
{ Did your people know, madame,
necklace last nigN
'Certainly: | made no mystery
about II. But nobody knew that we
put it away in the linen closet"
"Nobody?"
No-unlcSs-"
Il must beg you. madame. to be
exact. 1t Is most important point"
She said to her husband:
was thinking OF Hcnrcttc"
"Henricttc2 She knew no more
about it than the Others
w no Is this lady, asked NJ. Va
Iorbc
"Onc of my convent friends who
quarreled with her family and mar
rcd a sort OF artisan. When her hus-
band died | took her in here with her
son, and furnished a couple OF rooms
Tor them in the house And she
added, with certain confuSion: "Shc
does me few little services. She is
very handy person
wv hat floor does she live on2"
"On our own floor. not far off-at
tho end OF the passage. And, now
that | think OF it, her kitchen win
dow"
Looks out on this vard?"
"l cS, II Il Just opposite"
A short silence followed upon this
statement.
Then NJ. Nalorbc asked to be taken
TO HcnriCttC'S rooms.
They found her busy sewing, while
her son Raoul, a little fellow OF 9 or
!, sat reading beside her. Some
what surprised at the sight OF the
poor apartment which had been fur
nIShed for her, and which consisted
in all OF one room without a fire
place, and sort of recess or box
room that did duty ior a kitchen, the
COmniSsary questioned her. She
seemed upset at hearing OF the rob
berry. The night before she had her
self dressed the countess and fasten-
cd the necklace round her throat.
Good gracious" she exclaimed,
who would ever have thought it,"
And YOU have no idea, not the
smallest inkling: You know it is
possible that the thief may have pass
cd through your room"
She laughed wholchcartcdly, as
though not imagining for moment
that the least suspicion could rest
upon her.
'Why, wasn't the necklace in the
clu>ct?"
How do YOU know
Goodness nc, | always knew that
they put it there at night! They
used TO talk of it before me-"
Her face, which was still young, |
but scored by care and sorrow, show |
cd great gentlcnesS and resignation.
nevertheless, in the silence that en-
-,,,i r,,JIo.1,,
SION OF anguish. as though a danger |
had threatened its owner. Hcnricttc |
drew her son 10 her. The child took |
her hand, and impressed tender kiss
upon it."
81 presume" said NJ. dc Drcux
to the commissary, when they were
not suspect her | will answer for
her She is honesty itself" (
ooh, | am quite OF your opinion,
declared NJ. Nalorbe.
The comnisSary did not arrive any
further with the inquiry, which was
taken up by the examining magis
the days that followed. He quc>
the way in which the window OF the
l!ltH Nl'Ntt ''ltiNu anu Stlul, IN /
plorcd the little inner yard from top
TO bottom. 1t was all iruitleSs. The
latch was untouched. The window
could not be opened or closed from
the outside.
Alter four months investigation
the magistrates private impression
WAS that NJ. and Nine. de Drcux,
driven by their monetary needs,
which were known to be consider
able and pressing. had sold the
Queens Necklace He filed the case,
and dismissed it from his mind.
The theft OF the priceless jewel
struck tho Dreux-Soubises a blow
rom which it took them long to re-
cover. They also suffered in their
pride, as though they had lost one
If tho quartcringS of their coat. And.
,trangc to say. the countess wrcakcd
lcr resentment upon her old school
ricnd She bore her real grudge,
md accused her openly. Henrictte 4
vas first banishcd to the servants l
loor and afterward givcu a days no.
ice to quit.
The life OF NJ. and Nine. dc Dreux {
passed without any event of note.
They Travelled a great deal. One fact I
lone II be recorded as belonging
O this period. A few months after !.
1cnricttc's departure the countess re- |
eivcd letter from her that filled her {
i, a