“And that he is dead. You have given me so many proofs that it is so, that I can no longer doubt it, alas! But I will take courage, as I promised you I would. I must live, that I may strive to rehabilitate his memory, and restore to him his reputation as a man of probity, of honour: he is entitled to that. But as soon as I begin to think about the horrible mystery in which I am involved, my very reason seems to crumble – you can understand that, can you not? I don’t understand, I don’t know, I can’t guess... oh!”

“But,” interrupted Fandor, “we must seriously consider the situation in all its bearings. It may cause you atrocious suffering, but you must summon all your courage, mademoiselle. We must discuss it.”

Fandor and Elizabeth had moved away from the terrace, and were now in the leafy solitudes of the park.

Fandor began:

“There is that paper with its list of names, written in green ink, mademoiselle! It was a mistake on your part not to attach any importance to it until you fancied, and perhaps rightly, that someone had tried to steal it from you. Come now, can you tell me whether this list is still in your possession, or not?”

Elizabeth shook her head sadly.

“I do not know, I cannot tell! My poor head is so bewildered, and I find it all the trouble in the world to collect my thoughts. I told you, the other day, that this list had disappeared from a little red pocket book, that I had put on the chimney-piece of my room at Auteuil. But, the more I think it over the more doubtful I am... It seems to me now, that this list ought to be, must be still – unless it has been stolen since – in the big trunk, into which I threw, pell-mell, the papers and books my brother left scattered about his writing-table. To be quite sure about this, we must return to Auteuil...

But perhaps it is useless; because when I wanted to send it to you some forty-eight hours ago, I searched everywhere for the wretched thing, and in vain!...

I am not even sure now that I brought it away with me from rue Norvins!”

Fandor gently comforted the distracted girl, whose eyes were full of tears.

“Do not be disheartened. Try rather to put together in your memory what was written in this paper! You told me, surely, that there were names in this list of persons you knew, or had heard of? Search your memory a little, mademoiselle.”

“I don’t know! I cannot remember!” cried Elizabeth nervously.