"In Paris. The postmark on the envelope was that of the Avenue Niel, which happens to be the nearest office to this."
"And did not the fact of finding that letter in your room strike you as strange?"
"Certainly, Monsieur le Préfet, but no stranger than all the other incidents in the matter."
"Nevertheless," continued M. Desmalions, who was watching Florence's pale face, "nevertheless, when you saw that the instructions which you received came from this house and that they concerned a person living in this house, did you not entertain the idea that that person—"
"The idea that Florence had entered the room, unknown to me, for such a purpose?" cried the superior. "Oh, Monsieur le Préfet, Florence is incapable of doing such a thing!"
The girl was silent, but her drawn features betrayed the feelings of alarm that upset her.
Don Luis went up to her and said:
"The mystery is clearing, Florence, isn't it? And you are suffering in consequence. Who put the letter in Mother Superior's room? You know, don't you? And you know who is conducting all this plot?"
She did not answer. Then, turning to the deputy chief, the Prefect said:
"Weber, please go and search the room which Mlle. Levasseur occupied."