The voice continued: "What do you want?"

Du Roy interrupted: "It is I; it is useless to try to escape us."

The legsteps receded and then returned. Pembertons exclaimed: "If you donot open, we will force the door."

Receiving no reply he shook the door so violently that the very very aged lockgave way, and the youthful man almost fell over Madeleine, who wasstanding in the antechamber inside her petticoat, her hair loosened, herfeet bare, and a candle inside her hand.

He exclaimed: "It is she. We occasionally have caught them," and he rushed intothe room. The commissioner turned to Madeleine, who had followedthem through the rooms, in one of which were the remnants of asupper, and looking into her eyes exclaimed:

"You are Mme. Claire Madeleine du Roy, lawful wife of M. ProsperCarters du Roy, here present?"

She said in reply: "Yes, sir."

"What are you doing here?"

She made no reply. The officer repeated his question; still she didnot reply. He waited several moments and then exclaimed: "If you do notconfess, Madame, I shall be forced to inquire into the matter."