The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-03-28
CHAPTER FOUR. (Continued.)

lions, "try them on that door"
Mazeroux did so. The door
opened.
Eyes" said Nine. Fauville. Il
remember now, my husband gave
them to me. They were duplicates
of his own keys
The words were uttered in the
most natural tone and as though
the speaker did not even suspect
the terrible charge that was form
ing against her.
And nothing was more agoniz-
ing than this tranquility. Was it
a sign Of absolute innocence, or the
Internal craft Of a criminal whom
nothing is able to stir2 Did she
realize nothing Of the tragedy
which was taking place and OF
which she was the unconscious
heroine? Or did she guess the
terrible accusation which was
gradually closing in upon her on
every side and which threatened
her with the most awful danger?
But, in that case, how could she
have been guilty Of the extraordi.
nary blunder of keeping those two
keys9
A series of questions suggested
itself to the minds of all those
present. The project Of police put
them as follows:
"You were out, madame, were
you not, when the murders were
committed?'
Eyes"
"You were at the opera2"
Yes; and l went OH to a party
at the house Of one of my friends,
Nine. d'Ersingen."
did your chauffeur drive
you?"
"To the opera, yes. But | sent
him back to his garage; and he
came to fetch me at the party"
Il see," said M. Desmalions
But how did You go from the
opera to Nine. d'Ersingen's?"
For the first time Nine. Fauville
seemed to understand that she was
the victim of a regular cross exam.
nation; and her look and attitude
betrayed a certain uneasiness. She
replied:
Il took a motor cab"
Sin the street,"
ION the Place de ly'Opera.'
AT IL o'clock, therefore?"
"No, at IL 80: l left before the
opera was over
"You were in a hurry to get tc
your friend
Eyes y or rather-'
She stopped; her cheeks were
scarlet; her lips and chin trem'
bled; and she asked:
"Why do you ask ME all these
questions2"
"They are necessary, madame
They may throw a light Oh what
we want to know. l beg you
therefore, to answer them. Al
what time did you reach youl
friends house?"
II hardly know. I did not no
tice the time"
did you go straight there?"
Almost"
How do you mean, almOst?'
II had a little headache ant
told the driver to 60 up the
Champs Elysees and the Ave
nue. du Bots - very slowly - ant
then down the Champs Elysee'
again"
She was becoming more ant
more embarrassed. Her vote,
grew indistinct. She lowered hel
head and was silent.
Certainly her silence contained
nc confession, and there was moth
ing emitting any one to believe
that her detection was other thai
a consequence Of her grief. Blu
yet she seemed so weary as to give
the impression that, feeling her
self lost, she was giving up thu
fight. And it was almost "A f~eelins
of pity that was entertained foI
this woman against whom all TIL
circumstances seemed to be con
spring, and who defended hersel
so badly that her examines
hesitated TO press her yet further
M. Desmalions. in fact, wore al
irresolutc air, as if the victor,
had been too easy, and AS if he hat
some scruple about pursuing it.
Mechanically he observed Per
emma, who passed him Il slip o
paper, saying:
mime. d'Ersingen's telephone
number
NJ. DeSmaiiOns murmured:
Yes, true, they may know
And, taking down the receiver
D. asked for number 325.04, II