Fandor had been listening attentively to Elizabeth's story. He now said:
"You have used the word 'suicide,' mademoiselle: do you then really think, as everyone seems to do, that your patroness killed herself of her own free will?"
Elizabeth reflected a minute before replying:
"That was what she wrote—and one must believe that, nevertheless ..."
"Nevertheless?"
Elizabeth hesitated, passed her hand over her forehead, then said:
"Nevertheless, Monsieur Fandor, the more I think over this death, the more remarkable it seems. The Baroness de Vibray was not the kind of person to commit suicide, even if she were unhappy, even if she were ruined. I have often heard her speak of her money affairs; she even used to joke about the expostulations of her bankers, Messieurs Barbey-Nanteuil, because she was too fond of gambling. That was our poor friend's weakness: she was a dreadful gambler: she was always betting on horses and gambling on the Bourse."[8]
"Do you know the Barbey-Nanteuils at all, mademoiselle?"
"A little. I have met them once or twice at Madame de Vibray's—when she had one of her little evenings. Once or twice my brother has asked their advice about investments—very modest investments I can assure you—and they got one of their friends, a Monsieur Thomery, to buy some of my brother's art pottery."
"Have you many acquaintances in Paris, mademoiselle?"