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"And as actually happening when the shot was fired? Describe it tojust here"--and he crossed the room and stood upon the spot where he had been--"Mademoiselle was over there beside theI had --to answer a question I had put to her--when solass door"

"And you did not see her assailant?"

"I saw nothing The shot startled , I rushed to her In the meantime the assailant--whoever he was--disappeared!"

The brown-bearded ht Hugh saw doubt written largely upon his countenance He instantly realized that Ogier disbelieved his story

After all it was a very lame one He would not fully admit the reason of his visit

"But tell me, m'sieur," exclaimed the police officer "It see this veranda" And he walked out and looked about in the ht "If the culprit wished to shoot Mademoiselle in secret, then he would surely not have done so in your presence He ht easily have shot her as she was on her way horee, lishman "The whole affair is, to me, a complete mystery I saw nobody But it was plain to me that when I called Mademoiselle was seated out upon the veranda Look at her chair--and the cushions! It was very hot and close in the Rooht before retiring to bed"

"Quite possibly," he agreed "But that does not alter the fact that the assassin ran considerable risk in coh the open door Are you quite certain that Mademoiselle's assailant was outside--and not inside?" he asked, with a queer expression upon his aquiline face

Hugh saw that he was hinting at his suspicion that he himself had shot her!

"Quite certain," he assured him "Why do you ask?"

"I have h "Now, tell me what do you know about Made"

"Then why did you call upon her?"

"I have told you I desired soive it to me when the weapon was fired by an unknown hand"

"Unknown--eh?"

"Yes Unknown to ht be known to Madeently desired?"

"Some important information I travelled from London to Monte Carlo in order to obtain it"