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250 Mother Souchard, pale and trembling, stammered out:

"Why, my poor Monsieur Mintie, Madame isn't in there. Madame has not come back. . . ."

"Take care, you old sorceress! Don't try to make a fool out of me! And do as I tell you or I'll kill and smash everybody and everything Juliette, you, the furniture, the house."

The old servant raised her arms to the ceiling in bewilderment.

"I swear to you by the Lord! She has not come back yet, Monsieur Mintie! Go into her bedroom and see for yourself! I am telling you!"

In two bounds I was in the bedroom. . . the bedroom was empty. . . the bed had not been touched. Mother Souchard followed every step I made, repeating:

"See, Monsieur Mintié! See! Because you are no longer together. At this hour! . . ."

I passed into the dressing room. Everything was in order just as it had been when we used to come home late at night. Juliette's things were lying on the sofa, a boiler full of water was on the gas stove.

"And where is she?" I asked.

"Ah! Monsieur," Mother Souchard replied, "does anybody know where Madame goes? There was a man here this morning who looked like some kind of a valet and spoke to Celestine, and then Celestine went out taking with her a change of clothes for Madame., . . That's all I know!"

While prowling in the study I found the card which I had sent her the day before.

"Did Madame read this?"

"Probably not."

"And you don't know where she is?"