this afternoon, that he believed this housekeeper to be quite innocent," said the Duke idly.
"There is certainly one innocent in this affair," said Guerchard, grinning.
"Who is that?" said the Duke.
"The examining magistrate," said Guerchard.
The door opened, and Bonavent brought Victoire in. She was a big, middle-aged woman, with a pleasant, cheerful, ruddy face, black- haired, with sparkling brown eyes, which did not seem to have been at all dimmed by her long, drugged sleep. She looked like a well-to- do farmer's wife, a buxom, good-natured, managing woman.
As soon as she came into the room, she said quickly:
"I wish, Mr. Inspector, your man would have given me time to put on a decent dress. I must have been sleeping in this one ever since those rascals tied me up and put that smelly handkerchief over my face. I never saw such a nasty-looking crew as they were in my life."
"How many were there, Madame Victoire?" said Guerchard.
"Dozens! The house was just swarming with them. I heard the noise; I came downstairs; and on the landing outside the door here, one of them
