Matrena ran to Natacha’s chamber and returned with three enormous hat-pins with beautifully-cut stones in them.
“These are all?”
“They are all I have found. I know she has two others. She has one on her head, or two, perhaps; I can’t find them.”
“Take these back where you found them,” said the reporter, after glancing at them.
Matrena returned immediately, not understanding what he was doing.
“And now, your hat-pins. Yes, your hat-pins.”
“Oh, I have only two, and here they are,” said she, drawing them from the toque she had been wearing and had thrown on the sofa when she re-entered the house.
Rouletabille gave hers the same inspection.
“Thanks. Here is your step-daughter.”
Natacha entered, flushed and smiling.