“Of course I have seen it,” she answered coolly. “And of course I shall not stay. I do but finish my packing. In ten minutes I shall ring to have my luggage taken downstairs. There is a train in half an hour.”
“You will never escape now,” he said gloomily. “Do you know, too, that they have found the body of Mrs. Vanderstein?”
This time she was startled.
“What do you say?” she cried. “What bêtise is this?”
“It is true,” he said. “They found it last night. I was there.”
“You were there? Last night?” she repeated. “And you were not arrested, not suspected? Why, then, our star is indeed guarding us.”
“No, I wasn’t arrested,” he said, watching her, “and Joolie hasn’t been arrested yet, either.”
She started, and for a moment her eyes shone with the hatred and spite she cherished for her daughter. Then they fell before his. “Julie,” she said; “why should Julie be arrested?”
“Don’t you know?” he asked. “How is she to account for the pearls, and for the dresses and opera cloaks?”
“Oh, the dresses. Hasn’t she burnt them? I told her to. If she has not she must do so at once.”