At The Villa Rose

It was well, Mr. Ricardo thought, that some one understood. For

himself, he frankly admitted that he did not. Indeed, in his view

the first principles of reasoning seemed to be set at naught. It

was obvious from the solicitude with which Celia Harland was

surrounded that every one except himself was convinced of her

innocence. Yet it was equally obvious that any one who bore in

mind the eight points he had tabulated against her must be

convinced of her guilt. Yet again, if she were guilty, how did it

happen that she had been so mishandled by her accomplices? He was

not allowed however, to reflect upon these remarkable problems. He

had too busy a time of it. At one moment he was running to fetch

water wherewith to bathe Celia's forehead. At another, when he had

returned with the water, he was distracted by the appearance of

Durette, the inspector from Aix, in the doorway.

"We have them both," he said--"Hippolyte and the woman. They were

hiding in the garden."

"So I thought," said Hanaud, "when I saw the door open downstairs,

and the morphia-needle on the table."

Lemerre turned to one of the officers.

"Let them be taken with old Jeanne in cabs to the depot."

And when the man had gone upon his errand Lemerre spoke to Hanaud.

"You will stay here tonight to arrange for their transfer to Aix?"

"I will leave Durette behind," said Hanaud. "I am needed at Aix.

We will make a formal application for the prisoners." He was

kneeling by Celia's side and awkwardly dabbing her forehead with a

wet handkerchief. He raised a warning hand. Celia Harland moved

and opened her eyes. She sat up on the sofa, shivering, and looked

with dazed and wondering eyes from one to another of the strangers

who surrounded her. She searched in vain for a familiar face.

"You are amongst good friends. Mlle. Celie," said Hanaud with

great gentleness.

"Oh, I wonder! I wonder!" she cried piteously.

"Be very sure of it," he said heartily, and she clung to the

sleeve of his coat with desperate hands.

"I suppose you are friends," she said; "else why--?" and she moved

her numbed limbs to make certain that she was free. She looked

about the room. Her eyes fell upon the sack and widened with

terror.

"They came to me a little while ago in that cupboard there--Adele

and the old woman Jeanne. They made me get up. They told me they

were going to take me away. They brought my clothes and dressed me

in everything I wore when I came, so that no single trace of me

might be left behind. Then they tied me." She tore off her gloves

and showed them her lacerated wrists. "I think they meant to kill

me--horribly." And she caught her breath and whimpered like a

child. Her spirit was broken.