"Yes. There was a former lover of Marie's, her first lover; and, as it was said, the only man she had ever really cared for. They had been a devoted couple--were supposed by some to be married--and until a short time before the murder Marie's character had been considered almost stainless. Then a younger admirer appeared on the scene. There were violent quarrels. The actress seemed to have lost her head, to be infatuated by this aristocratic lover, one of the handsomest men in Paris. She had known him only a few months when they went for this jaunt to Saint-Germain--a stolen adventure. They were supposed to have been followed by the other man, and that the murder was an act of jealous madness." "And the crime was never brought home to him?" "Never. Beyond the fact of his relations with Mademoiselle Prévol, and of his disappearance immediately after the murder, there was nothing to connect him with the crime." "I thought it was difficult, indeed almost impossible, for any man to leave France without the knowledge of the police." "It is difficult; and at that time it was particularly difficult, as the crimes of the Commune were still of recent date, and the police were more than usually alert. But this man did it. All the great railway-stations and sea-ports were closely watched for the appearance of such a man among the departures; but he was never identified." "And you have no doubt in your own mind that this man was the murderer?" "Not the shadow of doubt. There was no one else who had any motive for assailing Marie and her admirer. Except in her relations with these two she had been propriety itself. Unless you can imagine a motiveless maniac dashing through a wood and shooting the first comer, you can hardly conceive any other cause than jealousy for such a crime as this." "Do you remember the name of the man who was suspected?" "Not at this moment; but I have the whole history of the case in my workshop below, and if you would like to read it, there are details that might interest you." "I should like much to read it." CHAPTER X. "TOUCH LIPS AND PART WITH TEARS."