think it over. But let me urge secrecy on you,
and depend on me."

Early the next morning Bernard was again
sent for to the prefect's house.

"I have carefully gone over the whole
evidence since I saw you," he said, "and it
certainly seems there is a very strong suspicion
against the baron. I have caused inquiries to
be made, and have ascertained that the baron
was a confirmed gambler, and that his journey to
Petersburg was probably only a ruse to avoid
arrest, it is a terrible case, and we must
proceed very cautiously. The baron stands very
high in the public esteem, and it seems
incredible that he could have committed this horrible
crime. Still that hat and the bill of the landlord
made out in his own name prove at least
that he must have returned to Paris. Why
should he return? What was the motive?
However, I have despatched an agent of the
secret police to Strasburg, to track his steps
from that place. When I hear anything I will
send for you."

On arriving at Strasburg, the police agent at
once repaired to the Maison Rouge. The landlord
perfectly remembered the baron's having
stayed at his hotel for a week, and having then
gone, whither he could not say. The porter,
however, remembered where his luggage was
taken. It was to a house outside the city, on
the road to Saverne, where a hired carriage was
in readiness. He got into the carriage and
drove off. But as the driver was an acquaintance
of the porter's, it was no difficult matter
to find him. He remembered the job perfectly,
but averred that the gentleman's name was
Thionville. He should not perhaps have paid
much attention to this fact, had he not had a
sister living at Saverne as chambermaid in the
same hotel to which he drove his fare. On
inquiring at Saverne, the agent found that a
Monsieur Thionville had arrived at the hotel as
stated, and that he had remained there four days,
during the greater part of which he had kept
in-doors, from indisposition.

The description the landlord gave of his
person and luggage left no doubt on the agent's
mind that he was on the right track. But
nothing further could be learnt. Still, one
important circumstance had been proved—namely,
that, instead of proceeding on his journey to
Russia, he had turned back on the road to Paris,
under an assumed name.

The only thing that now remained to be done
was to put an advertisement in the French and
German papers, inviting the husband of the
murdered lady to repair to Paris, in order to
claim the property of his deceased wife. For,
it was argued, if he had murdered her for the
sake of getting possession of her money, it was
very probable that he would take the bait now
held out. Neither did this surmise prove to be
incorrect.

Two months, or thereabouts, had elapsed,
and  the police were beginning to despair of
getting further tidings of the baron, when a
gentleman, attired in deep mourning, and apparently
bowed down with grief, presented himself
at the bureau of the police. " He had," he
said, '' by chance seen the fearful tidings of his
wife's murder in a paper at St. Petersburg,
and had hastened back to Paris as quickly as he
could. The shock, however, it had caused him
had brought on a severe attack of illness, from
which he had only just recovered, otherwise
he should have returned to Paris some weeks
sooner."

Acting in obedience to the orders of his chief,
the agent referred the baron to a comptoir,
where he would be furnished with the register
of the death and burial of his wife.

On entering the room, the baron was politely
invited to take a seat while the necessary papers
were being found.

After the lapse of a quarter of an hour an
official entered the room, and requested the
baron to accompany him to another comptoir,
where, to his dismay, he found himself submitted
to a rigorous examination.

"But, Monsieur le Baron, when you left
home, on March 25, whither did you travel?"
asked the chief officer.

"I travelled through Germany, en route for
St. Petersburg."

"Good! But which was the first town at
which you stayed?"

"Strasburg!"

"Quite true!" said his questioner, referring
to some papers. " On what day did you arrive
there?"

"On the 28th."

"Yes! and how long did you remain?"

"Let me see yes! it was one night and
half the next day," replied the baron, with a
little hesitation in his manner.

"And where did you proceed to next?"
resumed the officer.

After some reflection, the baron answered
that he had gone to Frankfort.

"Indeed!" answered the officer, raising his
eyes, and directing a steady glance towards the
baron. " To Frankfort! I think you are
mistaken. You say you arrived at Strasburg on
the 28th, where you remained till the following
day. But the landlord of the Maison Rouge
says that you remained at his house till April 7.
How do you account for that, Monsieur le
Baron?"

"Was I there a week? Yes! now I think
of it, you are quite right, monsieur; for I met
several friends there, who persuaded me to
lengthen my stay."

"You also state that you next went to Frankfort.
But if Monsieur le Baron reflects, he
will remember that he went to Saverne in a
close carriage."

"Yes; but that was only a day's trip, and
had nothing to do with my journey," was the
ready answer. " But may I ask, monsieur,
why all these questions?"

"Excuse me, Monsieur le Baron, you are
here to answer questions not to ask them.
Suffice it to say, it is usual under such
circumstances. Now, please to attend. You