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He was a big one to fat He was si

Not exceptionally tall, but well ly lean, aesthetically attractive face, dark hair, and very deep, dark eyes

"I understand that you have soive me about thehis hands on his desk and staring at her

"Information?" she repeated "No, I’m sorry I’m afraid that I’ve come here because I’m worried about what happened at the crypt"

If he was disappointed that his direct question gave hi in his eyes

"Mademoiselle, everyone is worried about what happened in the crypt I’m afraid that if you’ve co tihed softly "I aht in a man fro collected and analyzed We are living in modern times where science is most helpful

Have you been to the ruins?"

"Ah, yes" The question took her by surprise, and she found herself rely, that Brent Malone had repeatedly warned her to keep her narandfather had warned her as well

"How long have you been in the country?"

"Just a few days I have fah papers on his desk, then stared at her again "You are staying at the Chateau DeVant"

"Jacques DeVant isstare

"Old Jacques," Javet murmured "Tell me, did he send you to the crypt?"

"No!" she lied quickly, and hoped that her protest was not so strong it betrayed her immediately "No, I have always been interested in the history of the area I’o back and find our roots, that kind of thing, you know We seldom just say we’re Around somewhere else Except, of course, our Native A You know, Hispanic-American, AfroAmerican, Irish A Great And her cheeks were growing red

"Yes, of course," Javet said She wondered if he had grown suspicious She wondered what he would say if she were to break down and tell hi up, that vae, probably intent upon the great feast offered not just here, but just a shade farther west, in the great populous city of Paris And that, in her short tiest people, also convinced of evil, one of whom had been in the crypt at the time of the murder

Where she had been as well

"Look," she said i your ti woman who travels in and out of the city daily Naturally, I am very worried The papers have done little except describe theto come in here and find out that the police were hard on the case, and that you did have suspects, and perhaps, that an arrest was imminent"

Javet smiled at last "Passionate, impetuous, and determined that justice must be done! Yes, you are very American--and somewhat French I wish I could tell you that an arrest was imminent I can tell you that we do have suspects And that we do not intend to rest until the perpetrator of this horrible criht to justice Now, are you happy?"

"I’d be happier to hear that you have the murderer in custody"

"Of course," Javet said, "and I’d be happier, of course, if I didn’t feel that there is ed "I wish that there was ht and ere leaving, I thought that--that ere being followed That ere, perhaps, intended victi where?"

"La Guerre"

"And what made you feel that you were under attack?"

She realized just how ridiculous she was going to sound before she spoke "Shadows," she said despite herself

"Ah, shadows A dark street, fear in your hearts," he pointed out, not unkindly "Was there any ht we hit so-- or someone"

"Oh? There have been no reports of bodies found in the street thisin the street"

Javet kept staring at her She felt her cheeks reddening again She wondered if she should tell him that they had not left the bar alone, and that their co them to run But then he’d want to knoho the cole herself further and further into the events in the crypt It had been foolish for her to come

"Look," she said "I am sorry I shouldn’t have taken your time I suppose that I did want some kind of assurance I needed to know that the police weredoing soht ere a poor provincial police, and that we hadn’t the knowledge or capabilities of dealing with such a horrible cri people who do not cons in the street"

"No, no, really--"