"If it would interest you to hear me question her, please stay." Bonavent left the room.

The Duke sat down in an easy chair, and Guerchard stood before the fireplace.
"M.

Formery told me, when you were out this afternoon, that he believed this housekeeper to be quite innocent," said the Duke idly.
"There is certainly one innocent in this affair," said Guerchard, grinning.
"Who is that ?" said the Duke.
"The examining magistrate," said Guerchard.
The door opened, and Bonavent brought Victoire in.

She was a big, middle-aged woman, with a pleasant, cheerful, ruddy face, black-haired, with sparkling brown eyes, which did not seem to have been at all dimmed by her long, drugged sleep.

She looked like a well-to-do farmer's wife, a buxom, good-natured, managing woman.
As soon as she came into the room, she said quickly: "I wish, Mr.Inspector, your man would have given me time to put on a decent dress.