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Mr Ricardo nodded his head

"I kno," he said "You told uessed it at the time"

"Nor could I--at the time," said Hanaud "I kept my open mind

about Helene Vauquier; but I locked the door and took the key

Then ent and heard Vauquier's story The story was clever,

because so much of it was obviously, indisputably true The

account of the seances, of Mme Dauvray's superstitions, her

desire for an intervieith 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 an to

be clear So far she spoke the truth But then she lied Yes, she

lied, and it was a bad lie, e woman Adele had black hair Now I carried in my pocket-

book proof that that woman's hair was red Why did she lie, except

to e visitor?

That was the first false step taken by Helene Vauquier

"Now let us take the second I thought nothing of her rancour

against Mlle Celie To me it was all very natural She--the hard

peasant wo, who had been for years the

confidential servant of Mme Dauvray, and no doubt had taken her

levy from the impostors who preyed upon her credulousand pretty outcast whom she