However, I
had too often observed the power of the unknown over a guilty
conscience to despair of eliciting the truth.
"I want to ask you two or three questions," I said civilly.
"First, was M. de Vilain with you when you placed the paper in
the hollow of the tree? Or were you alone?"
I saw her eyelids quiver as with sudden fear, and her voice shook
as she stammered, "When I placed the paper?"
"Yes," I said, "when you placed the paper. I have reason to know
that you did it. I wish to learn whether he was present, or you
did it merely under his orders?"
She looked at me, her face a shade paler, and I do not doubt that
her mind was on the rack to divine how much I knew, and how far
she might deny and how far confess. My tone seemed to encourage
frankness, however, and in a moment she said, "I placed it under
his directions."
"Yes," I said drily, my last doubt resolved by the admission;
"but that being so, why did Vilain go to the spot?"
She grew still a shade paler, but in a moment she answered, "To
meet the agent.
Pages:
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199