It did not occur to Véronique to be astonished at this question, and she replied:
"My personal enquiries and the police enquiries were both based upon the same indisputable evidence, that of the four sailors."
"Who's to say they weren't telling lies?"
"Why should they tell lies?" asked Véronique, in surprise.
"Their evidence may have been bought; they may have been told what to say."
"By whom?"
"By your father."
"But what an idea! . . . Besides, my father was dead!"
"I say once more: how do you know that?"
This time Véronique appeared stupefied: