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Rh "Do you know of any photograph or portrait of Monsieur Georges among your late mistress's possessions?"

"I never saw any such portrait."

"You would know Monsieur Georges wherever you might happen to see him?"

"Yes. I do not think I could fail to recognise him."

"Even if he had disguised himself?"

"Even then. I think I should know his voice anywhere, even if I could not see his face."

"Will you describe him?"

"He is a tall man, broad-shouldered, powerful-looking. He has fine features, blue eyes, light-auburn hair, thick and flowing, and worn much longer than most people wear their hair. He is not so handsome or so elegant as Monsieur de Maucroix, but he has a more commanding look."

"That description would apply to hundreds of men. Can you mention any peculiarity of feature, expression, gait, manner?"

"No, I can recall nothing peculiar."

"And in moments of confidence did your mistress never tell you anything about this Monsieur Georges, his profession, his belongings, his place of residence?"

"Nothing."

"He did not live at your mistress's apartments, I conclude?"

"No, he did not live there."

"Did you never hear how he was occupied during the day, since you say he was never at your mistress's apartment in the daytime?"

"Never. I was told nothing about him except that he was rich and a gentleman. I asked no questions. My place was comfortable, my wages were paid regularly, and Madame was kind to me."

"Where did Léonie Lemarque sleep when she stayed in the Rue Lafitte?"

"She occupied a little bed in my room, which is inside the kitchen."

"Were you long in Madame's service?"

"Nearly four years. From the beginning of her engagement at the Porte-Saint-Martin, when she took the apartment in the Rue Lafitte. Her salary at the theatre justified her in taking such an apartment. Before that time she had been living with her mother on the other side of the Seine."

"Is it your opinion that Monsieur Georges was the murderer?"

"That is my fixed opinion."

This concluded the examination of Barbe Girot.

The little girl's examination was not resumed until ten days later. She had been very ill in the mean time, and seemed alto-