Убийство на поле для гольфа

           Withouthesitation,shedroppedherpreviousdefence,andadmittedthatthe“Russians”wereapureinventiononherpart.TherealmurdererwasGeorgesConneau.Maddenedbypassion,hehadcommittedthecrime,vowingthatifshedidnotkeepsilencehewouldenactaterriblevengeancefromher.Terrifiedbyhisthreats,shehadconsented—alsofearingitlikelythatifshetoldthetruthshemightbeaccusedofconnivingatthecrime.Butshehadsteadfastlyrefusedtohaveanythingmoretodowithherhusband’smurderer,anditwasinrevengeforthisattitudeonherpartthathehadwrittenthisletteraccusingher.Shesworesolemnlythatshehadhadnothingtodowiththeplanningofthecrime,thatshehadawokeonthatmemorablenighttofindGeorgesConneaustandingoverher,theblood-stainedknifeinhishand.

           Itwasatouchandgoaffair.MadameBeroldy’sstorywashardlycredible.Butthiswoman,whosefairytalesofroyalintrigueshadbeensoeasilyaccepted,hadthesupremeartofmakingherselfbelieved.Heraddresstothejurywasamasterpiece.Thetearsstreamingdownherface,shespokeofherchild,ofherwoman’shonour—ofherdesiretokeepherreputationuntarnishedforthechild’ssake.Sheadmittedthat,GeorgesConneauhavingbeenherlover,shemightperhapsbeheldmorallyresponsibleforthecrime—but,beforeGod,nothingmore!SheknewthatshehadcommittedagravefaultinnotdenouncingConneautothelaw,butshedeclaredinabrokenvoicethatthatwasathingnowomancouldhavedone