Evidently M. Magloire was suffering. He said,—
“You must be under a mistake. Servants are curious, and to hide from them is only to make them mad with curiosity. That girl has watched you. That girl has found means to see the countess when she came there. She must be examined. Is she still in your service?”
“No, she left me when the war broke out.”
“Why?”
“She wanted to return to England.”
“Then we cannot hope to find her again?”
“I believe not.”
“We must give it up, then. But your man-servant? Old Anthony was in your confidence. Did you never tell him any thing about it?”
“Never. Only once I sent for him to come to Vine Street when I had sprained my foot in coming down stairs.”
“So that it is impossible for you to prove that the Countess Claudieuse ever came to your house in Passy? You have no evidence of it, and no eye-witness?”