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Updated: June 23, 2025
Fisher to see that nothing is said within hearing of the room which could enable Madame de Staemer to obtain confirmation of the idea, which she evidently entertains, that Colonel Menendez is dead." "Does she actually assert that he is dead?" asked Harley. "My dear sir," replied Dr. Rolleston, "she asserts nothing. She sits there like Niobe changed to stone, staring straight before her.
She had unfamiliar gestures and employed her long white hands in a manner that was new to me and utterly strange. I could detect no family resemblance between the cousins, and I wondered if their kinship were very distant. One thing was evident enough: Madame de Staemer was devoted to the Colonel. Her expression when she looked at him changed entirely.
"What's that, doctor?" asked the Inspector. "Are they hysterical, or something?" "As a result of the shock, Madame de Staemer is dangerously ill," replied the physician, "and Miss Beverley is remaining with her." "Oh, I see. But Miss Beverley could come out for a few minutes?" "She could," admitted the physician, sharply, "but I don't wish her to do so." "Oh, but the law must be served, doctor."
I glanced at my friend as the Colonel led the way into the house. I saw him staring upward with a peculiar expression upon his face, and following the direction of his glance I could see an awning spread over one of the gray-stone balconies. Beneath it, reclining in a long cane chair, lay Madame de Staemer.
The latter, however, seemed now to be glued to his chair, and: "Oh, I see," he said; "and now there's another point: Have you any idea what took Colonel Menendez out into the grounds last night?" Madame de Staemer lowered her hands and gazed across at the speaker. "What is that, Monsieur l'inspecteur?" "Well, you don't think he might have gone out to talk to someone?" "To someone?
No sound came from Harley's room, therefore I did not disturb him, but proceeded downstairs in the hope of finding Miss Beverley about. Pedro was in the hall, talking to Mrs. Fisher, and: "Is Inspector Aylesbury here?" I asked. "No, sir, but he will be returning at about half-past eight, so he said." "How is Madame de Staemer, Mrs. Fisher?" I enquired.
Then, I don't understand Madame and the Colonel at all." She suddenly stopped speaking and flushed with embarrassment. "If you mean that Madame de Staemer is in love with her cousin, I agree with you," I said, quietly. "Oh, is it so evident as that?" murmured Val Beverley. She laughed to cover her confusion. "I wish I could understand what it all means."
But if the party broke up, as you say it did, somewhere about half-past ten o'clock, and if Madame de Staemer had gone to bed, why should Miss Beverley have remained up?" He paused significantly. "As well as Colonel Menendez?" he added. "Look here, Inspector Aylesbury," I interrupted, I speaking in a very quiet tone, I remember, "your insinuations annoy me."
I got into closer touch with my host and hostess, without achieving anything like a proper understanding of either of them, and I procured a new viewpoint of Miss Val Beverley. Her repose was misleading. She deliberately subjugated her own vital personality to that of Madame de Staemer, why, I knew not, unless she felt herself under an obligation to do so.
Our foreign servants there are five of them altogether got us a dreadfully bad name. Then, little by little, a sort of cloud seemed to settle on everything. The Colonel made two visits abroad, I don't know exactly where he went, but on his return from the first visit Madame de Staemer changed." "Changed? in what way?" "I am afraid it would be hopeless to try to make you understand, Mr.
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