The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-28
Yes. but it is blocked up"

fcs, but 1t is blocked up.
Il should like to see it."
Candles were lit, and NJ. Valorbe
at once remarked that the window
was only blocked half way by a
chest. which, besides, did not abso-
lutely touch the easements.
1T is close enough up to prevent its
being 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
this?"
1.-TWO; but at the level of the SER
wants floor the yard is protected bv
elose-railed grating. Tha. is what
makes 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, "he went
out through our room"
In which case you would not
have found the door boited in the
morning"
The commissary reflected for a mo-
ment, and then. turning to the
countess, asked:
Did your people know, madame.
necklace last night?"
Certainly; 1 made no mystery
about it. But nobody knew that we
put it away in the linen closet"
Nobody"
"No-unlcss-
II must beg you, madame, to be
exact. 1t is most important point"
She said to her husband:
u was thinking of Henriette."
,"Henriette? She knew no more
about it than the others"
who is this lady?" asked M. Va
lorbe.
"One of my convent friends who
quarreled with her family and mar
RED sort of artisan. When her hus-
band died l took her in here with her
son. and furnished a couple of rooms
for them in the house" And she
added, with certain confusion: "She
does me few little services. She is
very handy person"
What floor does she live on?"
On our own floor, not far off-at
the end of the passage. And, now
that l think of it. her kitchen win
Looks out on this yard?"
Yes, it is just opposite"
A short silence followed upon this
statement.
Then M. Valorbe asked to be taken
to Henriette's rooms.
They found her busy sewing, while
her son Raoul, little fellow Of E OF
i. 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
F, place, and a sort of recess or boz
room that did duty for kitchen, the
commissary questioned her. Sh.
| seemed upset at hearing of the rob.
berry. The night before she had her.
self dressed the countess and fasten.
ed the necklace round her throat.
Good gracious" she exclaimed
who would ever have thought it?"
And you have no idea, not thu
smallest inkling? You know it i.
possible that the thief may have pass
ed through your ROOM"
She laughed intellectually, a.
though not imagining for momen
that the least suspicion could res
why. wasn't the necklace in tn,
closet?"
How do you know?"
/
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
ed great gentleness and resignation
Nevertheless, in the silence that en-
sued, it suddenly assumed an expires
sion of anguish. as though dange
had threatened its owner. Henriett.
drew hc- son to her. The child tool
her hand, and impressed tender kis
az presume" said M. de Dreu,
to the commissary. when they wer
alone again-"I presume that you d,
not suspect herf 1 will answer TO
her. She is honesty itself"
"Oh, l am quite of your opinion,
declared M. Valorbe.
The commissary did not arrive an,
further with the inquiry, which wa
taken UP by the examining magis
trate, and completed in the course o
the days that followed. He ques
toned the servants, experimental o,
the way in which the window of tn
linen closet opened and shut, ex
plored the little inner yard from to-
to bottom. 1t was all fruitless. TIL
could not be opened or closed from
the outside.
} After four months investigation
the magistrates private impression
|, was that M. and Nine. de Dreuz
: driven by their monetary needs
which were known to be consider
: able and pressing, had sold tn
!, Queens Necklace. He filed the cast
and dismissed it from his mind.
The theft of the priceless jewe
struck the Dreux-Soubises a bio,
from which it took them long to re
cover. They also suffered in thei
pride, as though they had lost on
! of the quarterings of their coat. Ane
strange to say, the countess wreake
: her resentment upon her old schoc
: friend. She bore her a real grudg,
. and accused her openly. Henriett
was first banished to the servant.
: floor and afterward given days nc
, tice to quit.
III sc ,~d No. D->,,