The Commissaire diverted wrath from him however.
"What he means by pseudonym," he said to Helene Vauquier, explaining Mr.Ricardo to her as Mr.Ricardo had presumed to explain Hanaud, "is a false name.

Adele may have been, nay, probably was, a false name adopted by this strange woman." "Adele, I think, was the name used," replied Helene, the doubt in her voice diminishing as she searched her memory.

"I am almost sure." "Well, we will call her Adele," said Hanaud impatiently.

"What does it matter?
Go on, Mademoiselle Vauquier." "The lady sat upright and squarely upon the edge of a chair, with a sort of defiance, as though she was determined nothing should convince her, and she laughed incredulously." Here, again, all who heard were able vividly to conjure up the scene--the defiant sceptic sitting squarely on the edge of her chair, removing her gloves from her muscular hands; the excited Mme.

Dauvray, so absorbed in the determination to convince; and Mlle.