interposed.
"Give us your story. We can interrogate you afterwards."
"The murdered man is Francis A. Quadling, of the firm of Correse &Quadling, bankers, in the Via Condotti, Rome. It was an old house, onceof good, of the highest repute, but of late years it has fallen intodifficulties. Its financial soundness was doubted in certain circles,and the Government was warned that a great scandal was imminent. So thematter was handed over to the police, and I was directed to makeinquiries, and to keep my eye on this Quadling"--he jerked his thumbtowards the platform, where the body might be supposed to be.
"This Quadling was the only surviving partner. He was well known andliked in Rome, indeed, many who heard the adverse reports disbelievedthem, I myself among the number. But my duty was plain--"
"Naturally," echoed the fiery little detective.
"I made it my business to place the banker under surveillance, to learnhis habits, his ways of life, see who were his friends, the houses hevisited. I soon knew much that I wanted to know, although not all. Butone fact I discovered, and think it right to inform you of it at once.He was on intimate terms with La Castagneto--at least, he frequentlycalled upon her."
"La Castagneto! Do you mean the Countess of that name, who was apassenger in the sleeper?"
"Beyond doubt! it is she I mean." The officials looked at each othereagerly, and M. Beaumont le Hardi quickly turned over the sheets onwhich the Countess's evidence was recorded.
She had denied acquaintance with this murdered man, Quadling, and herewas positive evidence that they were on intimate terms!
"He was at her house on the very day we all left Rome--in the evening,towards dusk. The Countess had an apartment in the Via Margutta, andwhen he left her he returned to his own place in the Condotti, enteredthe bank, stayed half an hour, then came out with one hand-bag and rug,called a cab, and was driven straight to the railway station."
"And you followed?"
"Of course. When I saw him walk straight to the sleeping-car, and askthe conductor for 7 and 8, I knew that his plans had been laid, and thathe was on the point of leaving Rome secretly. When, presently, LaCastagneto also arrived, I concluded that she was in his confidence, andthat possibly they were eloping together."
"Why did you not arrest him?"
"I had no authority, even if I had had the time. Although I was orderedto watch the Signor Quadling, I had no warrant for his arrest. But Idecided on the spur of the moment what course I should take. It seemedto be the only one, and that was to embark in the same train and stickclose to my man."
"You informed your superiors, I suppose?"
"Pardon me, monsieur," said the Italian blandly to the Chief, who askedthe question, "but have you any right to inquire into my conduct towardsmy superiors? In all that affects the murder I am at your orders, but inthis other matter it is between me and them."
"Ta, ta, ta! They will tell us if you will not. And you had better becareful, lest you obstruct justice. Speak out, sir, and beware. What didyou intend to do?"
"To act according to circumstances. If my suspicions were confirmed--"
"What suspicions?"
"Why--that this banker was carrying off any large sum in cash, notes,securities, as in effect he was."
"Ah! You know that? How?"
"By my own eyes. I looked into his compartment once and saw him in theact of counting them over, a great quantity, in fact--"
Again the officials looked at each other significantly. They had got atlast to a motive for the crime.
"And that, of course, would have justified his arrest?"
"Exactly. I proposed, directly we arrived in Paris, to claim theassistance of your police and take him into custody. But his fateinterposed."
There was a pause, a long pause, for another important point had beenreached in the inquiry: the motive for the murder had been made clear,and with it the presumption against the Countess gained terriblestrength.
But there was more, perhaps, to be got out of this dark-visaged Italiandetective, who had already proved so useful an ally.
"One or two words more," said the Judge to Ripaldi. "During the journey,now, did you have any conversation with this Quadling?"
"None. He kept very much to himself."
"You saw him, I suppose, at the restaurants?"
"Yes, at Modane and Laroche."
"But did not speak to him?"
"Not a word."
"Had he any suspicion, do you think, as to who you were?"
"Why should he? He did not know me. I had taken pains he should neversee me."
"Did he speak to any other passenger?"
"Very little. To the Countess. Yes, once or twice, I think, to hermaid."
"Ah! that maid. Did you notice her at all? She has not been seen. It isstrange. She seems to have disappeared."
"To have run away, in fact?" suggested Ripaldi, with a queer smile.
"Well, at least she is not here with her mistress. Can you offer anyexplanation of that?"
"She was perhaps afraid. The Countess and she were very good friends, Ithink. On better, more familiar terms, than is usual between mistressand maid."
"The maid knew something?"
"Ah, monsieur, it is only an idea. But I give it you for what it isworth."
"Well, well, this maid--what was she like?"
"Tall, dark, good-looking, not too reserved. She made other friends--theporter and the English Colonel. I saw the last speaking to her. I spoketo her myself."
"What can have become of her?" said the Judge.
"Would M. le Juge like me to go in search of her? That is, if you haveno more questions to ask, no wish to detain me further?"
"We will consider that, and let you know in a moment, if you will waitoutside."
And then, when alone, the officials deliberated.
It was a good offer, the man knew her appearance, he was in possessionof all the facts, he could be trusted--
"Ah, but can he, though?" queried the detective. "How do we know he hastold us truth? What guarantee have we of his loyalty, his good faith?What if he is also concerned in the crime--has some guilty knowledge?What if he killed Quadling himself, or was an accomplice before or afterthe fact?"
"All these are possibilities, of course, but--pardon me, dearcolleague--a little far-fetched, eh?" said the Judge. "Why not utilizethis man? If he betrays us--serves us ill--if we had reason to lay handson him again, he could hardly escape us."
"Let him go, and send some one with him," said the Commissary, the firstpractical suggestion he had yet made.
"Excellent!" cried the Judge. "You have another man here, Chief; let himgo with this Italian."
They called in Ripaldi and told him, "We will accept your services,monsieur, and you can begin your search at once. In what direction doyou propose to begin?"
"Where has her mistress gone?"
"How do you know she has gone?"
"At least, she is no longer with us out there. Have you arrested her--orwhat?"
"No, she is still at large, but we have our eye upon her. She has goneto her hotel--the Madagascar, off the Grands Boulevards."
"Then it is there that I shall look for the maid. No doubt she precededher mistress to the hotel, or she will join her there very shortly."
"You would not make yourself known, of course? They might give you theslip. You have no authority to detain them, not in France."
"I should take my precautions, and I can always appeal to the police."
"Exactly. That would be your proper course. But you might lose valuabletime, a great opportunity, and we wish to guard against that, so weshall associate one of our own people with you in your proceedings."
"Oh! very well, if you wish. It will, no doubt, be best." The Italianreadily assented, but a shrewd listener might have guessed from the toneof his voice that the proposal was not exactly pleasing to him.
"I will call in Block," said the Chief, and the second detectiveinspector appeared to take his instructions.
He was a stout, stumpy little man, with a barrel-like figure, greatlyemphasized by the short frock coat he wore; he had smallish pig's eyesburied deep in a fat face, and his round, chubby cheeks hung low overhis turned-down collar.
"This gentleman," went on the Chief, indicating Ripaldi, "is a member ofthe Roman police, and has been so obliging as to offer us his services.You will accompany him, in the first instance, to the Hotel Madagascar.Put yourself in communication with Galipaud, who is there on duty."
"Would it not be sufficient if I made myself known to M. Galipaud?"suggested the Italian. "I have seen him here, I should recognize him--"
"That