"Sire, it was not you ... oh, forgive me." And then in a lower tone: "I have denounced you, Sire." Then, dropping to her knees, Marie Pascal repeated all that had happened. Fandor now realized that the death of Susy d'Orsel had a witness and that a detective was now in possession of the facts. "And this detective! Is he tall, broad shouldered, about forty-five, with gray hair and clean shaven?" The young girl was astonished at the accuracy of the portrait. "Why, yes, Sire ... your Majesty is right." "It can be no other than Juve," thought Fandor joyfully. Then turning to Marie Pascal, "Now you must answer truthfully the question I am going to ask you. Will you tell me why, after accusing me of this dreadful crime, you have suddenly changed your opinion and come to tell me how sorry you are and that you are now sure I am not guilty? You must have very serious reasons for this change of front." "I have been convinced of your innocence," she replied, "by the most absolute proof." She then recounted to Fandor her discovery of the chemise belonging to the Marquis de Serac. "After picking up this chemise I was about to give it over to Mme. Ceiron, the concierge of the house, when my eyes happened to fall upon the ruffles on the sleeves. Attached to the right sleeve were some shreds of lace which seemed to have been torn from a larger piece. I am a lace maker and I recognized immediately that these pieces came from a dress I had just delivered to Mlle. Susy d'Orsel a few hours before." Fandor, who was listening with the closest attention, now asked: "What do you deduce from that, Mademoiselle?" "Sire, simply that the person who threw Susy d'Orsel out of the window was wearing that chemise." "And," continued the journalist, "as this belonged to the Marquis de Serac?" "But it is a woman's chemise." Fandor quickly realized the importance of this testimony. First, that Susy d'Orsel had really been murdered and secondly that the King Frederick-Christian had had no hand in it. "Is your Majesty very unhappy over the death of Mlle. d'Orsel?" Fandor glanced sharply at the young woman and then replied enigmatically: "I am, of course, very much shocked at the tragic end of this poor girl. But what is the matter with you?" Marie Pascal was growing paler and paler and finally collapsed in his arms. Gently he placed Marie Pascal on a sofa. For a few moments Fandor sat there holding her hands. Then she sat up quickly. "What are you doing?" Ready to continue what he considered an amusing adventure, he was about to take her in his arms murmuring, "I love you." But she rose quickly and fled horror-stricken. "No, no, it's horrible." She sank down covering her face and crying hysterically. Fandor rushed over just in time to hear her murmur, "Alas, and I love you."