"Yes, there's the dominating figure--cruel, masterful, relentless--that strange woman, Helene Vauquier.

You are surprised?
You will see! It is not the man of intellect and daring; it's my peasant-woman who is at the bottom of it all." "But she's free!" exclaimed Ricardo.

"You let her go free!" "Free!" repeated Ricardo.

"She was driven straight from the Villa Rose to the depot.

She has been kept au secret ever since." Ricardo stared in amazement.
"Already you knew of her guilt ?" "Already she had lied to me in her description of Adele Rossignol.