human
I am convinced that Mrs. Pargeter never intended to go to Madame de Léra, and that the proposed visit was a blind! The facts speak for themselves. Madame de Léra had taken only one servant to the country, and this servant, an old woman whom she has had with her many years, and whom she can entirely trust, had no idea that her mistress was expecting a visitor! I repeat--that no preparations for Mrs. Pargeter's arrival had been made at Marly-le-Roi. It is my belief--nay, my conviction--that Madame de Léra knows perfectly well where her friend is now concealed.
gpt
Has Madame de Léra made any such admission?
human
No, answered the Prefect, looking at him thoughtfully,
gpt
Madame de Léra has made no admission; but then I have learned, through long experience, never to believe, where there is a friend in the case, what a lady tells me. Women of the world, my dear sir, are more loyal the one to the other than we men may choose to believe!
human
And men, Monsieur? Are they more disloyal?
gpt
Men, said Monsieur le Préfet, dryly,
human
I notice, Monsieur le Préfet, that you eliminate the possibility of material accident having occurred to Mrs. Pargeter?
gpt
Let us distinguish! exclaimed the older man quickly.
human
If, by accident, you mean, Mr. Vanderlyn, the type of mishap which might have occurred to this lady when she was walking or driving in our Paris streets, then I certainly eliminate the possibility of accident to Mrs. Pargeter. Within six hours of such a thing having occurred the facts would have been laid before me, and, as you know, two nights and two days have elapsed since her disappearance. If, on the other hand, we envisage the possibility of suicide, then are opened up a new series of possibilities.