“Thank you,” said Van Aldin. “I can only say call upon me at any time, and you will not find me ungrateful. And now, gentlemen, to business.”

“I propose,” said M. Carrège, “to interrogate the maid, Ada Mason. You have her here, I understand?”

“Yes,” said Van Aldin. “We picked her up in Paris in passing through. She was very upset to hear of her mistress’s death, but she tells her story coherently enough.”

“We will have her in, then,” said M. Carrège.

He rang the bell on his desk, and in a few minutes Ada Mason entered the room.