It was well, Mr. Ricardo thought, that some one understood. For
himself, he frankly admitted that he did not. Indeed, in his view
the first principles of reasoning seemed to be set at naught. It
was obvious from the solicitude with which Celia Harland was
surrounded that every one except himself was convinced of her
innocence. Yet it was equally obvious that any one who bore in
mind the eight points he had tabulated against her must be
convinced of her guilt. Yet again, if she were guilty, how did it
happen that she had been so mishandled by her accomplices? He was
not allowed however, to reflect upon these remarkable problems. He
had too busy a time of it. At one moment he was running to fetch
water wherewith to bathe Celia's forehead. At another, when he had
returned with the water, he was distracted by the appearance of
Durette, the inspector from Aix, in the doorway.
"We have them both," he said--"Hippolyte and the woman. They were
hiding in the garden."
"So I thought," said Hanaud, "when I saw the door open downstairs,
and the morphia-needle on the table."
Lemerre turned to one of the officers.
"Let them be taken with old Jeanne in cabs to the depot."
And when the man had gone upon his errand Lemerre spoke to Hanaud.
"You will stay here tonight to arrange for their transfer to Aix?"
"I will leave Durette behind," said Hanaud. "I am needed at Aix.
We will make a formal application for the prisoners." He was
kneeling by Celia's side and awkwardly dabbing her forehead with a
wet handkerchief. He raised a warning hand. Celia Harland moved
and opened her eyes. She sat up on the sofa, shivering, and looked
with dazed and wondering eyes from one to another of the strangers
who surrounded her. She searched in vain for a familiar face.
"You are amongst good friends. Mlle. Celie," said Hanaud with
great gentleness.
"Oh, I wonder! I wonder!" she cried piteously.
"Be very sure of it," he said heartily, and she clung to the
sleeve of his coat with desperate hands.
"I suppose you are friends," she said; "else why--?" and she moved
her numbed limbs to make certain that she was free. She looked
about the room. Her eyes fell upon the sack and widened with
terror.
"They came to me a little while ago in that cupboard there--Adele
and the old woman Jeanne. They made me get up. They told me they
were going to take me away. They brought my clothes and dressed me
in everything I wore when I came, so that no single trace of me
might be left behind. Then they tied me." She tore off her gloves
and showed them her lacerated wrists. "I think they meant to kill
me--horribly." And she caught her breath and whimpered like a
child. Her spirit was broken.