Deportment excellent. "Her mark in that
would be almost perfect were it not for the one affair. I refer to the
jewel episode. One has informed monsieur of that?"
Mr. Patterson confessed his ignorance and Mademoiselle Duroc related the
incident which we already know. No light had ever been thrown on the
matter.
"Do you suppose she stole the things?" asked Mr. Patterson, bluntly.
Mademoiselle shrugged her shoulders and thrust the question from her
with a sweeping gesture of both hands. "There has been nothing to
prove--nothing to disprove. Absolutely. I look at that slim, small child
sometimes and raise my hands to heaven in amaze."
Mr. Patterson rose. "Thank you. I have taken a great deal of your time.
You understand it was important for me to know about this child. My wife
wished to adopt her. If she had lived--but without her I should hesitate
under any circumstances; under these, I cannot undertake the
responsibility. I will put the little girl in an orphanage in her native
state. That is the best place for a child that needs oversight
and--er--probably severe discipline. I have engaged passage for the
twelfth. I will send a cab for the child.
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