Chapter 3 3. Unique eyesight...

These last words disturbed the de Chanys, and they consulted in whispers with their cousins, Estrechet and Raoul d'Avernoy.Hearing her mention the valley and the place where the man in the coat was hiding, Saint-Quentin sank down on the upholstered armchair.Dorothy is just crazy!Telling the whereabouts of the man in the coat is not the same as telling the whereabouts of her and Saint-Quentin themselves.Too careless! But she, amidst the panic and uneasiness, was still so calm.She seems to be familiar with the car, moving towards the set goal, and the others are under her leadership, stumbling and walking in fear.

"Miss," said the countess, "we are amazed at what you have revealed. It proves your eyesight, and you reminded us. I cannot thank you enough." "You have received me so cordially, ma'am," she answered, "and I am glad if I can be of any use to you." "You have been a real help," said the countess sincerely, "and I hope you will continue to help us." "How to help?" "Tell us all you know." "That's all I know." "Perhaps you can know more?" "What is the solution?" The countess smiled slightly: "Just use the witch's skills you just mentioned."

"Madam, don't you disbelieve these things?" "I'm starting to believe it now." Dorothy nodded. "I'm willing to try...but not every time." "Try it." "Okay. Let's try it. Please don't laugh at me." She took a handkerchief from Saint-Quentin's pocket and covered her eyes. "Blindfolded, you can have a clear mind," she said. "The more you can't see with your eyes, the more you can understand with your heart." Then she added gravely: "Madam, please ask me a question. I will do my best to answer it."

"Just wake up and ask?" "yes." She propped her elbows on the table and pressed her hands to her forehead.The countess asked the first question: "Who is digging? Who is looking for things under the fountain and the sundial?" A minute passed.Everyone felt that the girl was concentrating and slowly detached from everything around her.She finally said thoughtfully, with nothing to do with the tone of a witch or a sleeper: "I found nothing in the square. On this side, it must have been days, and all traces were covered. But in the valley... ..." "In the valley?" asked the countess.

"A stone slab is erected, and a man is digging with a shovel." "Someone? Who is it? What are his characteristics?" "He wears a very long overcoat..." "Where's the face?" "A scarf was wrapped around his face, and the hat with the brim drooping over his head was covered... and his eyes could not be seen. He finished his work, put down the slate, and went away with the shovel." "Didn't you take anything else?" "No. He found nothing." "Are you sure?" "Absolutely." "Which way did he go?"

"He came back down the valley...to the manor gate." "The gate is locked!" "He has the key. He goes into the farm...early in the morning...no one is up yet...he goes to the orange grove...there's a little house..." "Yes, it's the gardener's room where he keeps his tools." "The man put down the shovel, took off his coat and hung it on a nail in the wall." "It can't be the gardener!" cried the countess. "Where's the face? . . . Did you see his face?" "No...no...he always covered his head..."

"Where are the clothes?" "Clothes?...I didn't notice...he went away...disappeared." The girl stopped talking, as if her attention was focused on a person, but the figure of this person gradually blurred and disappeared into the darkness like a ghost. "I can't see him," she said, ". . . I can't see anything. Ah! No, on the stone steps of the castle . . . the door closes softly . . . and then there's a staircase . In the corridor, there is barely some light from a few small windows... But, I saw a few paintings... galloping horses... a hunter in red clothes... ah! That man... is that man, he is kneeling in front of the door . . . he found the keyhole . . . and went in . . . "

"It's a servant, I'm sure..." the countess said in a low voice, "... There are paintings in the corridor, which indicate that this is a room on the second floor. What does this room look like?" "The shutters were closed. The man turned on the flashlight and looked around... There was a calendar on the mantelpiece... Today is Wednesday... Empire clock with gilt pillars..." "The big clock in my drawing room," whispered the countess. "The clock said quarter to five... The light from the flashlight immediately turned to the opposite side of the clock, shining on the mahogany cabinet with two doors facing each other. The man opened the two doors and took out a safe from it."

Everyone was very anxious and listened quietly to Dorotai's words.Because of nervousness, all of them sullenly.The girl had never been to the castle, had never stepped over the threshold of the little parlour, and yet she narrated things she could never have seen, and who could not believe the visions she described? The countess was shocked and said: "The safe is locked... I'm sure... I put the jewelry back and locked it... I remember the door of the safe clicking..." "Locked, yes. But the key is on the chest." "That's all right! I've messed up some of the letters on the lock."

"No, because the key turned." "impossible!" "The key is turned. I see three letters." "Three letters! Do you see that?" "I saw it clearly. One was R, one was O, and one was B, the first three letters of the name Robery. The safe was opened, and there was a small box inside. The man's hand Searched inside... took away..." "What? What? What did he take?" "Two earrings." "Is it two sapphires? Two sapphires? . . . " "Yes, ma'am, two sapphires." The countess was in a great panic, and hurried out of the hall, followed by her husband and Raoul d'Avernoy.Dorothee heard Count Octave say: "If it's true, Darvernoy, you must admit that her powers of foreknowledge are amazing."

"It's really strange," agreed de Estreche.He followed them to see them out, then closed the door and walked back a few steps, obviously he had something to say to the girl. Dorothei took off the towel and rubbed his eyes, as if a person had just stepped out of the darkness. The bearded gentleman and her looked at each other for a moment.Then, after a moment of hesitation, he walked towards the door again.However, when he came to the door, he changed his mind again, turned to Dorotai, with a bushy beard in one hand, and a sneering sneer on his face. When it comes to laughing, Dorothy has always been back and forth, she smiled like a bearded gentleman. "What are you laughing at?" "I laugh because you laughed first. But I don't know what makes you happy. Can you tell me?" "Of course, miss. I laugh because I think it's very funny." "What's so interesting?" De Estreche took two or three steps forward, and then said: "It's an interesting idea to combine two men into one, where one digs under the flagstones and the other sneaks into the castle in the middle of the night to steal jewellery. " "You mean...?" asked the girl. "I mean, to put it plainly, in the matter of stealing M. Saint-Quentin..." "Put the blame on M. de Estreche." Dorothei helped him finish what he had to say. The bearded gentleman suppressed the unhappiness in his heart, and did not make use of it.He just went on: "Exactly. Why don't we all be honest, okay? You and I are not blind. Last night I saw a dark figure sliding down the window. You see, you..." "A gentleman was hit on the head with a flagstone." "Exactly. I'll say it again: you're mixing the two together, and it's a powerful move. Very powerful...and dangerous." "What's the danger?" "Where there is an offense, there must be a counterattack." "I'm not attacking. But, I want people to know that I'm ready for anything." "Including accusing me of stealing earrings?" "Maybe." "Oh! Oh! Then I must quickly prove that the earring is in your possession, shall I?" "Just hurry up." He stopped again at the door and said, "So we are enemies?" "Why the enemy? You don't even know me." ... "I don't need to know you to know who you are." "Why, who am I? I am the knight Maxime de Estreche." "Possibly. Still, you are the gentleman who, without the knowledge of your relatives, seeks . "Is this none of your business?" "yes." "Why?" "You'll find out soon." He gestured, either in anger or contempt.But he restrained himself at once, and muttered: "It's your fault, it's Saint-Quentin's. See you later." After speaking, he nodded, turned around and left. The strange thing is that in this sudden and fierce duel, Dorotai acted as if nothing had happened. Out of girlish nature, as soon as the door closed, she put her thumb to the tip of her nose and made a contemptuous gesture. Gesture, tiptoe around in situ a few times.She's pretty happy with herself and things.Then, she opened a glass cabinet, took out a bottle of smelling salts, and approached Saint-Quentin who was lying on the chair: "Come, old friend, smell it." He took a breath, sneezed, and muttered, "We're screwed." "You're kidding, Saint-Quentin. Why are we screwed?" "He's going to report us." "Yes, he will point the finger at us. However, to report us and tell what he saw this morning, I don't think he has the guts. Otherwise, I can also say what I saw." "Anyway, Dorothy, there's no need to get involved with jewellery." "Anyway, we will find out sooner or later. Let me speak out first, so that the target can be diverted." "It may also cause fire, Dorotai." "If that's the case, I'll testify against the bearded gentleman." "There must be proof." "I will." "You hate him so much!" "Not hate, but to kill him. This is a dangerous man, Saint-Quentin. I say it intuitively, you know I seldom make mistakes. This is a man who does all kinds of crimes and does everything he can. He betrayed his relative de The Charneys. I'm going to do everything I can to get them rid of him." Saint-Quentin tried to reassure himself. "You are amazing. Planning, calculating, acting, predicting, it makes people feel that you follow the steps and have a very thorough plan." "My boy, I have no plan at all. I just take it one step at a time, and adapt to the situation." "but……" "My goal was clear, nothing more. Before me stood four men, no doubt brought together by a common secret. However, because of the name 'Robley', my father repeated on his deathbed. Those few words uttered gave me the right to find out if he was a part of it, to see if his daughter was eligible to succeed him. So far, the four have conspired to ostracize me. Although I tried All efforts to gain their trust and tell the truth have yielded zero results. But, I will succeed." With a sudden stamp of her foot, showing all the determination and strength of the smiling beauty, she added: "I will succeed, Saint-Quentin, I assure you. I have facts to reveal. One of them will make They trust me more." "What is it, Dorothy?" "I know that, boy." She stopped talking.She looks out of the open window, where Castor and Pollux are fighting.The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the castle.Someone screamed.A servant hurried across the courtyard and closed the gate, leaving only a small group of people on the estate, and three or four caravans, including the one from the Dorothy Circus. "Police...police..." Saint-Quentin stammered. "Over there... inspecting the shooting booth." "De Estreche was with them," Dorothee told him. "Oh! Dorothy, what a good thing you have done? . . . " "I don't care," she replied calmly. "These people have a secret, and their secret may be mine too. I want to know the secret. The panic, the sudden change of events, and all this is in my favor." "but……" "Damn it, Saint-Quentin. I've been watching this all my life. Don't tremble, be merry. . . . Come, my friend, let us dance the minuet." She wrapped her arms around his waist, like holding a dummy with soft legs, and forced him to turn around.Castor and Pollux climbed into the house through the ledge, followed by Captain Montforgon, and they sang and danced to the couple, first in the living room and then as far as the citadel. the lobby. But Saint-Quentin faltered again, much to the dismay of everyone. Dorothy was getting impatient. "What's the matter?" she asked, holding him tight to keep him from falling over. He stammered, "I'm afraid...I'm afraid..." "Hey, what's the matter! I've never seen you so useless. What are you afraid of?" "jewelry……" "Idiot! Didn't you throw it into the bush..." "No." "You didn't throw it away?" "No." "So, where are they now?" "I don't know. Following your instructions, I searched the basket and I know I put it in myself. I can't find it in the basket. The carton is gone." Listening to his explanation, Dorotai's expression became more and more serious.She suddenly felt in danger. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? If you did, I wouldn't do it." "I dare not. I don't want to upset you." "Ah! Saint-Quentin, you little fellow, you are quite mistaken." She didn't blame him anymore, and continued: "What do you think is the reason?" "I guess I'm remembering wrong, I didn't put the earrings in the basket...but somewhere else... somewhere else in the caravan...I've looked everywhere Didn't find it. But, they, they'll find it, the cops..." The girl was stunned.Let him hold the earrings and file the case formally according to legal procedures. The result will be arrest and imprisonment. "Leave me alone, go away...," said Saint-Quentin sobbing, "I'm a fool... I'm a criminal... don't save me... leave everything to me, which is the truth anyway. " At this time, the police captain in uniform appeared at the entrance of the front hall under the leadership of his servants. "Don't make a sound," said Dorothy in a low voice, "don't say a word." The captain stepped forward: "Miss Dorotai..." "I am, Captain. What's the matter?" "Please follow me, it is necessary..." At this moment, the Countess Octave, accompanied by her husband and Raoul d'Avernoy, hurried back.Her arrival interrupted the captain's words. "No, no, captain," she cried, "I firmly oppose any attempt to cast doubt on the lady. It is a misunderstanding." Raoul Darvernoy also objected.But Count Octave said: "My dear, you know that this is a common procedure, and that the captain of the police has to do it as a last resort. Wasn't there a robbery? So it was only natural that everyone should be investigated. . . . ..." "But, it was Miss who told us about the robbery case. It was she who revealed that someone was planning a conspiracy against us in the past hour." "Why don't you ask her, as everyone else does? As de Estreche just said, your earrings were probably not stolen from a safe, or you put them on by accident today. They were thrown outside somewhere...then, someone picked them up..." The captain of the police, a very honest man, was very troubled by the count and countess talking differently, and did not know what to do.It was Dorothy who helped him out. "Mr. Earl, I agree with you. You think my role is suspicious, and everyone has the right to ask questions, how do I know the letters on the safe, and whether the witch's ability is enough to explain my insight. Therefore, there is no reason to give My special offer." She bowed before the countess and kissed her hand softly: "Madame, don't take part in the search. It's not very interesting. We buskers are often in trouble, and to me it's just It’s just one more time. You will definitely feel uncomfortable after reading it. However, please come here when they ask questions later, and you will understand why..." "I will definitely come." "Captain, please order." She left with her four friends, and the captain.St. Quentin looked depressed, like a prisoner who was sent to the guillotine.Captain Montforgon, with his hands in his pockets and a rope around his wrist, was dragging the cart full of packages, whistling an American song as if he knew nothing would happen. Outside the yard, a village policeman stood guard by the large open gate, the last of the peasants had gone.In the citrus grove, the amusement stall owners gather around their makeshift wooden shed as another police officer checks their credentials. When Dorothey and his party came to the caravan, she found de Estreche chatting with two servants. "You directed the search, sir," she said cheerfully. "Yes, madam . . . for your benefit," he replied in the same tone. "That's right, I have no doubts about the test results." She turned to the captain again and said, "I don't have a key to give you. The Dorotai Circus has no locks. Everything is open. There is nothing in your hand and nothing in your pocket." The captain didn't seem to like the job.However, the two servants were busy with their work, and de Estreche was watching. "I'm very sorry, miss," he said, taking the girl aside. "In order to return your innocence, I think we should investigate meticulously." "Too serious," she replied sarcastically. "Serious what?" "Really! Just think about our conversation. A criminal: either I or you." De Estreche must have regarded the girl as a formidable opponent, and was terribly afraid of her intimidation.Because, although he put on a friendly look, he could even be said to be quite attentive, and joked with her at the same time, the search work was not sloppy at all.Under his instructions, the servants removed all the baskets and boxes from the car, and took out pieces of old and worn-out clothes. Compared with the scarves and headscarves that girls like to dress up with, they formed a sharp contrast in color. Compared. The search turned up nothing. They examined the walls and ceiling of the caravan, the cushions, the bridle of the one-eyed magpie, the sacks of oats, the stores of food.Still nothing. They searched the four children again.A maid searched for Dorotai's clothes.The result is still in vain.The earrings were never found. "And this one?" he asked, pointing to the large basket full of pots and pans that swayed under the caravan. Saint-Quentin could not stand still again, and Dorothy secretly kicked him on the ankle to make him stand up straighter. "Let's run away," he stammered. "You are so stupid. You know that the earrings are gone, so what are you afraid of?" "I may be mistaken." "You're stupid. There's no mistake in the circumstances." "So, where did the cardboard box go?" "Are you blind?" "You, did you see it?" "Of course I saw it! It's like seeing a nose on your face." "on the car?" "no." "Where?" "On the ground, ten paces from you, between Beard's legs." She pointed to Captain Montforgon's car. At this time, the child had put down the car and was playing with a spinning top. The backs of his heels were all over the floor. One of the small boxes was the carton containing the earrings, which Captain Montforgon put into what he called the convoy that afternoon. Dorothy hinted to Saint-Quentin about her accidental discovery, but she didn't expect that the person she was going to attack had such subtle and deep observation, and made an irreparable mistake as a result.It was not the girl, but her friend Saint-Quentin, who, under the cover of a pair of black spectacles, was watching d'Estrechet, who had already noticed the young man's panic and weakness.Dorotai has always maintained a nonchalant look.But will Saint-Quentin eventually give away? And so it was.Saint-Quentin recognized the small cardboard box tied up with a red rubber band, breathed a sigh of relief, and immediately felt relieved.He thought that the children's toys were scattered on the sand and were easily accessible, but who would think of opening them.De Estreche kicked these gadgets more than once by accident, and the wheels tripped him several times, and each time the captain rebuked him unceremoniously: "Oh, sir, if this is your Car, let me hit it a few times, what do you think?" Saint-Quentin shook his head, laughing aside.De Estreche followed his gaze and understood at once.The earring was there, protected from accident, and the captain was unconsciously complicit.But which package is it in?He thought that cardboard box was particularly suspicious.He didn't say a word, suddenly the cat bent down to pick up the small box, then stood up, opened it quietly, and there were two sapphires among the white pebbles and shells. He looked at Dorothy.Her face was pale.