"Mariette never commits herself. She reminds one forcibly of the Norman peasant who being asked for his opinion on the apple crop replied: 'You can't say there are apples, because there are no apples, but you can't say there are no apples, because there are apples.'
"The President continues his interrogations: 'Did Mme. Steinheil love her husband? You ought to know, for no one knows more about people than their servants.'
"'Servants see everything but should say nothing.'
"'It has been established that Mme. Steinheil once sent her husband to his studio....'
"'Well, what does that prove? Even the most devoted of wives lose their temper at times....'
"'Did Mme. Steinheil love her mother?'
"'When Mme. Japy came, she was welcomed...."
"'Then how do you explain that Mme. Steinheil once said: "Mother again"?'
"'Even the best of daughters can say a thing like that.'
"'Mme. Steinheil sent you some time after the crime to Vert-Logis to fetch a little box which we believed contained her jewels. What was there in that box?'