"I do not deny that," she answered. "I deny that I killed him."
"Then who did?"
"Who did?" she shrieked. "Who did? Why, you yourself!"
"You lie!" he cried fiercely, his cheeks in an instant ashen pale.
"I would have told them nothing," she went on quickly. "I would have allowed them to arrest me and afterwards discover their mistake, were it not that you had endeavoured to give me into their hands in order to save yourself. No, my dear friend, Julie Fournereau is loyal only to those who are loyal to her, as many have before found out to their cost. I would have saved you had you not led the police here to raid my house, to arrest my friends, and to hurry me away to prison for a crime that I did not commit. But listen! You deny the murder of the young Englishman. Well, shall I relate to them all that occurred?"
"Tell them what untruths you like," he growled fiercely. "You cannot harm me."
"Yes, madame," urged old Mr. Keppel, "tell us all that you know. We are determined now to get to the bottom of this affair."
"This man," she explained, "was the man who fleeced the unfortunate gentleman here in my house. I am not wishing to shield myself for a single moment—I desire only to tell the truth. Monsieur Thorne, when they last met here, accused him of cheating at baccarat; high words ensued, and the young man drew a revolver and fired, the bullet striking Laumont in the shoulder, whereupon he swore to be avenged. I knew well that a vow of vengeance taken by such a desperate character as Laumont was something more than mere idle words; and when he went to the Riviera, as he did each year, in search of inexperienced youths whom he could fleece, I shortly afterwards followed. He stayed first at the 'Hôtel de Paris' at Monte Carlo, but meeting young Thorne accidentally one afternoon, he discovered that the latter was living at the 'Grand' at Nice, and that same night transferred his quarters there. Now, Thorne had an intimate friend at Nice—Mr. Gerald Keppel—and it seemed as though Laumont desired to make the latter's acquaintance, with the ulterior motive of practising his sharper's tricks upon him. Be that as it may, I, in order to watch the progress of events, moved to the same hotel at Nice. I knew that Laumont was bent on vengeance, and felt certain that some terrible dénouement was imminent."
She paused, and glanced around at us. Then lowering her eyes, she went on:
"I am an adventuress, it is true; but I have still a woman's heart. I was determined, if possible, to prevent Laumont from wreaking vengeance upon the poor boy. It was for that reason I followed him to Nice and took up my abode there. On the day of the tragedy I was in the Rooms at Monte Carlo in the afternoon, and there saw him playing and winning; while just as he was leaving with Miss Rosselli, young Mr. Keppel and another lady, his pockets bulging with his gains, I saw Jean Laumont watching him. By the evil look he cast in his direction, I knew that the spirit of murder was in his heart. That evening I dined at Giro's with Monsieur Cameron, and afterwards left him in order to watch the movements of Jean and the young Englishman. The latter, after a short conversation with Monsieur Cameron in the hall of the Casino, descended by the lift to the station, and took train to Nice. I travelled by the same train, but in the crowd at Nice station I lost sight of him. He must have taken a fiacre immediately to the hotel, and furthermore, the Corsican must also have followed him, without knowing of my presence. I met some friends at the station, but on arrival at the hotel, twenty minutes later, I went straight up to my room. On the way I had to pass the door of Miss Rosselli's sitting-room, and just as I was approaching, my feet falling softly on the thick carpet of the corridor, the door opened noiselessly, and a man, after looking forth stealthily, came out and stole along to the room he occupied. That man was Jean Laumont."