Mr.Dundas replied to the Juge d'Instruction that his own packet, stolen from him on the journey, contained nothing but papers _entirely personal,_ concerning himself alone.
"'What was in the case which the man afterwards murdered slipped into your pocket ?' asked the Juge d'Instruction--Lenormand tells me.
"'A necklace,' answered Mr.Dundas.
"'A necklace of diamonds ?' "'Possibly diamonds, possibly paste, I wasn't much interested in it.' "'Ah, was this not the necklace which you--staying at the Elysee Palace under another name--gave to Mademoiselle Maxine de Renzie last evening ?' was the next question thrown suddenly at Mr.Dundas' head.

Now, you see, Mademoiselle, that my story is not dull." "Am I to hear the rest--according to your protege ?" I asked, twisting my handkerchief, as I should have liked to twist Godensky's neck, till he had no more breath or wickedness left in him.
"Mr.Dundas tried his best to convince the Juge d'Instruction, a most clever and experienced man, that if he had, as an old friend, brought you a present of diamonds, it was something entirely different, and therefore far removed from this case.
"'Are you not Mademoiselle de Renzie's lover ?' was the next enquiry.

'I admire her, as do thousands of others, who also respect her as I do,' your friend returned very prettily.

At last, dearest lady, you begin to see what there is in this string of questions and answers to bring me straight to you ?" "No, Count Godensky, I do not," I answered steadily.

But a sudden illuminating ray did show me, even as I spoke, what _might_ be in his scheming mind.
"Then I must be clear, and, above all, frank.