The stranger went out into the corridor, closing the door. The thing had been well managed: the screws keeping the bolt case in position were put back in their holes – the key remained inside – no one would suspect that only a slight push was necessary to get into the room.

With a chuckle, the stranger bent down and pushed a tassel under the door.

The servant must not discover the trick when she is sweeping the passage: now with this wedge, the door cannot be opened without a violent push.

With a last glance up and down the passage, illuminated for a moment by his electric torch, the stranger made sure that there was no one about to see him; then, with silent tread, he began to go downstairs.

Half-way down, his accomplice awaited him.

“Well, master?” questioned Jules in a low, trembling voice. In a calm, quiet voice, the man in the hood mask replied:“It is done – is successful... I have wedged the door tight. You will be careful when you are sweeping tomorrow.”

Jules lowered his head.

“Yes... yes... Have you...?”

The stranger put his hand on the servant’s shoulder.

“Listen,” whispered the stranger, “I do not repeat my orders twenty times over... have I not already told you that I do not allow myself to be questioned?... Try to remember that!... You wish to know whether I have killed her?... Well, I will tell you this : I have not killed her. But I have so managed things that she will kill herself!... A suicide, you understand. One piece of advice: tomorrow, keep anyone from going to her room as long as you can...if Madame Bourrat, or anyone else asks for her, you must say that you saw her leave the house – that she has gone out.”

“But,” protested Jules, “it is impossible, what you tell me to say, master! It just happens that she is expecting visitors tomorrow!... She told me that, on this account, she meant to stay indoors all day!”

The man with the hood mask ground his teeth.

“You idiot! What does that matter?... You are to say: Mademoiselle Elizabeth has just gone out, but she told me she was not going far, and that she would return in about twenty minutes... If anyone should ask for her again, you are to answer that she has not come back yet!”

“But... master...when they find out what’s happened really?”

“Ho! When it is discovered, it will seem quite natural that a person who means to commit suicide – for she will have committed suicide, you understand – should have taken precautions not to be disturbed; you can grasp this?”

“Yes, master –yes!”

They had returned to the garden: the man in the hooded mask was preparing to get over the gate.

“Farewell! Be faithful! Be intelligent!... You know what you have to gain?... You also know what risks you run?... Eh!... Now go!”

“You will return tomorrow, master?”