"Yes."
"Might he not have had some design on your money?"
"I have thought of that; but there are insuperable difficulties. There is, first, my sister; and, again, even if she had not escaped, how could he ever get possession of the property?"
The chief did not answer this. He went on to ask his own questions.
"Did you ever hear of the loss of any of your money in any way--by theft, or by forgery?"
"No."
"Did any thing of the kind take place in your father's lifetime?"
"Nothing of the kind whatever."
"Do you know any thing about the antecedents of your maid Mathilde?"
"No; nothing except what little information she may have volunteered. I never had any curiosity about the matter."