The young girl was overwhelmed. The earrings discovered in her possession, the theft duly verified meant arrest and jail.
"Leave me to my fate," groaned Saint-Quentin. "I'm nothing but an imbecile.... A criminal.... Don't try to save me.... Throw all the blame on me, since it is the truth."
At that moment a police-inspector in uniform appeared on the threshold of the hall, under the guidance of one of the servants.
"Not a word," murmured Dorothy. "I forbid you to utter a single word."
The inspector came forward:
"Mademoiselle Dorothy?"
"I'm Mademoiselle Dorothy, inspector. What is it you want?"
"Follow me. It will be necessary...."
He was interrupted by the entrance of the Countess who hurried in, accompanied by her husband and Raoul Davernoie.
"No, no, inspector!" she exclaimed. "I absolutely oppose anything which might appear to show a lack of trust in mademoiselle. There is some misunderstanding."