"Does one understand he had a history?"
"I have heard it intimated such was the case."
"But I remain in the dark. The theft presumably was not discovered till after his disappearance. Yet, according to your contention, he must have known of it in advance. How do you account for that?"
"Mademoiselle would make a famous juge d'instruction."
"That does not answer my argument."
"How is one to answer it? Who knows how Duchemin discovered the theft before the ladies of the château did?"
"Do you know what you make me think? That he was not as innocent as you assert."
"Mademoiselle will explain?"
"I have a suspicion that this Monsieur Duchemin was guilty in intention; but when it came to put his intention into execution, he found he had been anticipated."
"Mademoiselle is too clever for me. Now I should never have thought of that."