Evening star., 1922-08-13
By Melville Davisson Post

Size was about to dance before
Herod, her body proportioned like a
dryad's. supple in the nearly naked
Costume Of the east, commanding the
exclusive attention OF the whole of
Paris packed in the opera house.
| The Marquis de Chantelle, oblivious
Of M. Jonquelle. was awaiting the
presentation OF his bouquet of ofien-
tai orchids. They should arrive at
I this moment.
! He watched to see what sign Nine.
zirtenzoff would give him before she
swayed into the dance that had en-
tranced Herod.
! NJ. Jonquelle, watching the marquis.
took a box Of cigarettes out OF his
pocket and slipped his thumb nail
around the stamp. but he did not open
the box. He spoke suddenly to the
Marquis de Chantelle. His voice was
sharp, clear, and it's tones arrested
the mans attention.
] Monsieur lie Marquis he said.
Nine. Zirtenzoff will not be pleased
with her bouquet of orchids
| The marquis turned suddenly on
him. His eyes were now contracted
with an intense expression.
| You know, monsieur. that I have
sent a bouquet Of orchids to Nine.
Zirtenzoff?'
| surely, monsieur" replied the pre-
feet Of police. Il passed the boy de-
parting with them when 1 entered.
They were very lovely. superb, e1-
quisite. the mottled butterfly. How
IoV tA1 10 h.t to hnn-
sieur lie Marquis"
The marquis continued to regard
him.
"And why, monsieur, do you COM
pare me with this variety of orchid?'
"If you will tell me. Monsieur lie
Marquise,'' replied the prefect Of po-
lice, why Jean Lequex refused to say
where the necklace was that he had
stolen I will answer your question
The hauteur in the marquis voice
was now distinctly audible.
Monsieur" he said. 'it was you
who promised to tell me that.
And 1 shall tell you" replied JON
quelle. Jean Lequex refused to say
where the necklace was for the very
good reason that he did not know
where it was"
NJ. Jonauelle looked the marquis
| steadily in the face.
1.-The agent OF the Surete neglected
to mention to monsieur an item or
two OF their discoveries-the writing
on the slip of paper had been made
! with the left hand: and the concierge.
as it happened. seeing the Marquis de
Chantelle go out. leaving his door
ajar. closed ii.
"Ah, monsieur. we have been en-
gagged in bit Of comedy. Pardon US
| if we have deceived you. 1t was ]
who conducted the investigation Of
your affair, disguised as Forneau, and
it was the agent Forneau. disguised
as Jean Lequex, who confessed to
your robbery and took a mock SEN
tence of imprisonment under an ar
rangement with the court. We did
not find, then, the thief who opened
the safe to your apartment"
The marquis regarded the prefect OF
police with an amazed expression, his
| lips parted. his eyes wide.
"Then. monsieur" he stammered,
f"you have discovered neither the thief
nor the necklace"
! "Ah. yes" replied N. Jonquelle in
| the modulated voice of one who bids
another adieu. We have discovered
both"
| He took a mass of jewels out of his
waistcoat pocket and handed them to
| the marquis.
It, found these in the bouquet OF
orchids which YOU were sending TO
Mme.,' Zirtensoff. May I trouble you
to present them to Madame la Mar
auise when she shall return from
America tomorrow"
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