She appeared thoughtful, and slowly she explained:
"The château, which has been empty for a long while, belongs to the family of Chagny-Roborey, of which the last representative, Count Octave, a man about forty, married, twelve years ago, a very rich woman. After the war the Count and Countess restored and modernized the château. Yesterday evening they had a house-warming to which they invited a large party of guests who went away at the end of the evening. To-day they're having a kind of popular house-warming for the villagers."
"And as regards this name of Roborey, have you learned anything?"
"Nothing. I'm still quite ignorant why my father uttered it."
"So that we can get away directly after the performance," said Saint-Quentin who was very eager to depart.
"I don't know.... We'll see.... I've found out some rather queer things."
"Have they anything to do with your father?"
"No," she said with some hesitation. "Nothing to do with him. Nevertheless I should like to look more closely into the matter. When there is darkness anywhere, there's no knowing what it may hide.... I should like...."
She remained silent for a long time. At last she went on in a serious tone, looking straight into Saint-Quentin's face:
"Listen: you have confidence in me, haven't you? You know that I'm quite sensible at bottom ... and very prudent. You know that I have a certain amount of intuition ... and good eyes that see a little more than most people see.... Well, I've got a strong feeling that I ought to remain here."