That is the Archbishops Palace, the man
returned.
Now I come to the one circumstance, Hanaud
continued. This was the very place for Ricardo this morning. For it was bought
byPouchette nine days before Evelyn Devenishs death.
Dianas room held a secret, although it was not
hidden in the copy of aTintoretto. The widow Chicholle, Hanaud repeated slowly, like
a man searchingamongst his memories. I said to the widow Chicholle: Bring it to me
inthree days time. If thatyoung lady is there, they will try to get her away. It may
be that I should have set a more liberal meaning upon that phrase.
You know something about thesewomen, of course, a
man of the world like you.
There are some small matters of business waiting
forme.
Not for nothing had he travelled once a year
fromBordeaux to Arcachon! Ricardo, I shall ask you to dine with me and now. He will
go by the foot of theletter, Hanaud said with a grin. Yet here was Hanaud admitting
his inadequacy! I dropped the mask in theroad to show him that I did.
And so you refused the emerald of Jeanne Corisot,
Monsieur Pouchette.
The widow Chicholle came that night at ten oclock.
Hanaud was clearly in a fret, and Dennis Blackett pressed his point witha smile.
Jeanne Corisot hadceased to reign over her Eastern prince some six months back. That
little lady was, I believe, in Bordeaux during theearly summer.
The case came to me, andI thought it would be
easy.
Heturned towards him confidently and innocently
smiling. Jeanne Corisot hadceased to reign over her Eastern prince some six months
back. Domenique Pouchette looked this way and that way. It is asecond growth, to be
sure, but according to many judges should be classedwith the first. It runs from a
little square in that parish, talland narrow and dark, to the quays.
About that I can tell you no more than you can tell
yourself.