Besides, I recognised the lady. I suppose
you did, too."
"Yes, I have seen pictures of her. And I admired her for putting back
her veil."
"So did I. She has changed since the day of her wedding, Lester--she
was a smooth-faced girl, then! Three years of life with her duke have
left their mark on her!"
He fell silent, staring thoughtfully at the carpet. Then he shook
himself.
"And the maid's story was most interesting," he added. "Nevertheless,
there are still a number of things which are not quite clear to me."
"There is one thing I don't understand, myself," I said. "I hadn't
any idea this was the right cabinet. I didn't see how it could be."
"That's it, exactly. How did it happen, when the veiled lady went to
Armand & Son in Paris, that she was directed to Philip Vantine?
According to his own story, he did not purchase this cabinet; he had
never seen it before; it was presumably shipped him by mistake;
Armand & Son cable you that it was a mistake; and yet they cite
Vantine as the purchaser. There is something twisted somewhere,
Lester; just where I'll try to find out."
"Which reminds me that Armand's representative hasn't been around
yet. No doubt he can straighten the matter out.
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