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She had set about the task of seducing Mme. Dauvray's maid, and found a master, not an instrument. In the small cafe on that afternoon of July Helene Vauquier instructed her accomplices, quietly and methodically, as though what she proposed was the most ordinary stroke of business.
I tried to stop the seances, but I was not allowed. I had aroused a passion which I could not control. I was afraid that Mme. Dauvray's whole life it seems absurd to those who did not know her, but those who did will understand yes, her whole life and happiness would be spoilt if she discovered that what she believed in was all a trick."
Dauvray's confidence, had deposed her unwittingly, had turned the confidential friend into a mere servant; therefore Helene Vauquier hated her. And her hatred reached out beyond the girl, and embraced the old, superstitious, foolish woman, whom a young and pretty face could so easily beguile.
The only ones which fit at all are those taken from Celie Harland's bedroom." He called to an officer standing in the drive, and a pair of grey suede shoes were brought to him from the hall. "See, M. Hanaud, it is a pretty little foot which made those clear impressions," he said, with a smile; "a foot arched and slender. Mme. Dauvray's foot is short and square, the maid's broad and flat.
She might be kept alive on the chance that she could be forced to tell what, by the way, she did not know, namely, the place where Mme. Dauvray's valuable jewels were secreted. Now, follow this. We, the police, find the jewels and take charge of them. Let that news reach the house in Geneva, and on the same night Mlle. Celie loses her life, and not very pleasantly.
Dauvray's superstitions, her desire for an interview with Mme. de Montespan such details are not invented. It was interesting, too, to know that there had been a seance planned for that night! The method of the murder began to be clear. So far she spoke the truth. But then she lied. Yes, she lied, and it was a bad lie, my friend. She told us that the strange woman Adele had black hair.
Hanaud handed it to the Commissaire. "It will be necessary to keep that," he said. It was a thin piece of strong whipcord. It was the same kind of cord as that which had been found tied round Mme. Dauvray's throat. Hanaud opened the door and turned back to the nurse. "We will send for a cab for Mlle. Vauquier. You will drive with her to her door. I think after that she will need no further help.
"Monsieur!" He turned and saw Mme. Dauvray's maid. He stopped under a street lamp, and said: "Well, what can I do for you?" The woman hesitated. "I hope monsieur will pardon me," she said humbly. "I am committing a great impertinence. But I think monsieur is not very kind to Mlle. Celie." Wethermill stared at her. "What on earth do you mean?" he asked angrily.
But as he did so a man in plain clothes, who had been waiting upon the landing, stepped forward. He carried in his hand a piece of thin, strong whipcord. "Ah, Durette!" cried Besnard. "Monsieur Hanaud, I sent Durette this morning round the shops of Aix with the cord which was found knotted round Mme. Dauvray's neck." Hanaud advanced quickly to the man. "Well! Did you discover anything?"
For Lemerre said, as though it was no more than a matter of ordinary comment: "So Mme. Dauvray's jewels were, after all, never stolen?" Hanaud started. "You know that? How did you know it?" "It was in this evening's paper. I bought one on the way here. They were found under the floor of the bedroom." And even as he spoke a newsboy's voice rang out in the street below them.
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