“Certainly; they are perfectly innocent, and cannot injure any one.”
“And have you any other proofs of intimacy?”
“I know that she had a method of entering my house to see Oliva. I saw her myself, just after Oliva had disappeared, and my servants saw her also.”
“But what did she come for, if Oliva was gone?”
“I did not know. I saw her come out of a carriage at the corner of the street. My idea was that she wished to attach Oliva to her, and keep her near her.”
“And you let her do it?”
“Why not? She is a great lady, and received at court. Why should I have prevented her taking charge of Oliva, and taking her off my hands?”
“What did she say when she found that Oliva was gone?”
“She appeared distressed.”
“You suppose that Beausire carried her off?”