Edith paused for a moment, unsure where to begin. Usually, questioning people whom she did not know, about such a delicate topic, would be greatly discouraged. But as a mystery writer--an occupation not many ladies would dare pursue--it only took that one moment for her to break through her propriety-induced hesitation.

Mademoiselle Alouette's eyes were wide and accepting when Edith began. "I am going to ask some questions that you will perhaps want to avoid. How much will you willfully tell me?"

"Anything," Alouette responded quietly, "as long as you listen with understanding and compassion."

Edith nodded calmly, though inside her mind her thoughts were racing. She would have to show understanding and compassion? What did Alouette have to tell that required such things? Perhaps she was involved in the theft against her will. "I promise."

"Then ask me anything." Alouette's eyes focused somewhere across the room. "I would like to correct some of the gossip."

Edith's eyes widened slightly, but she still said what she had planned. "Why did you come to the ball?"

"To enjoy it."

Could that be true? "Why did you make such a...spectacle...with your entrance?"

Mademoiselle Alouette shook her head, her eyes still distant. "I did not mean to. She said that I looked beautiful, but I never thought..."

"Who is 'she'?" Edith cut in, her curiosity sparked.

Alouette stiffened. "I...I'm afraid I do not have permission to say. That is another person's secret too, not just mine."

"I understand," Edith said, though she was still not satisfied on that account. "Why do you wear a mask?"

Mademoiselle Alouette's hand lifted to the white mask that still covered her face. "To disguise myself," she said in a whisper.

"Why?"

Alouette sighed deeply. "I only tell you this because I want there to be no more misunderstanding, no idle gossip concerning me. I am not afraid of the truth now, and I intend to make a clean breast of it."

Edith had to keep herself from leaning on the edge of her seat in anticipation.

"I am not supposed to be attending this ball," she continued. "In fact, I am supposed to be in the kitchen. I am only a scullery maid, you see. I work here in the palace. Through many a grand ball I have stayed hidden from the crowds, scraping dishes instead of dancing and wearing rags instead ball gowns. You do not know how much I longed to be a part of it! I wanted to mingle among the fine nobles, laugh, and be free from my menial tasks!"

By now, Alouette was in tears, and Edith was speechless. How could she not be when she had unwittingly stumbled upon a second mystery!

"I could not longer resist. As this ball approached, I created a disguise. I struggled to learn how to look and behave like a noble lady. My true name is Alison, but I discarded that for a grander one, a less familiar one. No one at the ball could be allowed to suspect who I really was! Then, when the day arrived, buttressed by my various concealments, I entered the ball as Mademoiselle Alouette."

"Amazing," Edith breathed. Alouette--or rather, Alison--turned to see how she was receiving it. Edith smiled with the curiosity and beauty of it all. "Extraordinary!" she said louder. "Just a scullery maid! And yet you caught the attention of the entire ball! And the Prince..."

Alison blushed under her mask.

Edith paused. "But why did you want to leave?

Alison let out a distressed whimper. "The way that people would look at me...oh, it was horrible! And the Prince kept asking me to dance....People were talking. I was the subject of their conversations. Of course some of it was surely harmless, but...you know now how it is. Some people get skeptical, others envious. They tried to accost me between dances, ask questions...." her words broke off into heavy sobs.

"You wanted to hide the truth," Edith said quietly, "so you ran."

Alison wiped tears on the back of her glove, her breath coming haltingly. "Some...some lady ran up...she tried to take my mask off my face..." She looked up at Edith with a pained expression. "I had no choice but to go! But they dragged me back. I tried to run, but I...." She moaned. "Why me? Why did they only chase me? There was someone else outside, but they only went after me!"

That was strange. "Who was out there?" Edith questioned quickly.

Alison shrugged. "I don't know, just some person. I heard footsteps, and I saw someone's shadow disappear into the statue garden."

"Interesting," Edith muttered. Hearing about the strange occurrence had reminded her about the mystery she needed to solve, no matter how intriguing Alison's story was. She stood up. "You have made a friend in Miss Dumont?" she said.

Alison nodded.

"I must go," Edith said, "but I will send her back in. I will not reveal your secret, though I will still do all in my power to dispel any unfriendly gossip I hear about you."

Alison smiled. "Thank you, Miss."

When Edith left the room, she was met by Mr. Darling and Frederica.

"What did she tell you?" Frederica asked immediately.

"She told me her story," Edith answered, using vague terms that would not reveal anything to Mr. Darling. "You need not worry; I am fully sympathetic, and I will not spread it around the party. Now, I believe you should go back and comfort the poor girl."

Frederica let out a relieved sigh and nodded, disappearing into the room.

"What did you learn?" Mr. Darling asked once she had gone.

"Mademoiselle Alouette is not an accomplice to the thief," Edith stated surely. "Her distracting entrance was merely a fortunate opportunity for him."

Mr. Darling looked relieved. "Anything else?"

"Yes." Edith lowered her voice. "Mademoiselle Alouette said she saw someone in the statue garden when she escaped from the ball. That person would have had to evade the guards in order to get there. Suspicious, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Mr. Darling said thoughtfully. "What are you going to do about it?"

She let out a small, impatient breath. "Nothing right now. I'm afraid I would not be allowed outside to search for more information. But..." She smiled. "There is another trail I can follow."

"What?"

She held up the blue thread that she had been holding since she had discovered it. "I found this among the glass shards in the display room," she said, her words fast and enthusiastic. "I am sure that it comes from the thief's clothes."

Mr. Darling frowned at it doubtfully. "But Miss Curtis, there are many people wearing blue, or at least pieces of it. You don't mean to question them all, do you?"

Edith laughed. "If I must! But I am not the least bit worried. I am sure there are only a few people wearing this exact shade! I only have to question them."

Edith was already walking to the dance floor, searching for likely candidates, but Mr. Darling was still unsure as he struggled to keep pace with her. "What will you do?" he asked. "Hold it up to their person and compare colors?"

Her eyes twinkled. "Of course!"