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Updated: May 20, 2025
"Then sir, help me to prove the truth of what I have said. I will tell you everything." M. Daburon was fully convinced that Claire was seeking to deceive him; but her confidence astonished him. He wondered what fable she was about to concoct. "Sir," began Claire, "you know what obstacles have stood in the way of my marriage with Albert.
"I ask permission, sir," said he to the investigating magistrate, "to examine the apartment before any one else is permitted to enter. It is very important for me." "Certainly," approved M. Daburon. Gevrol passed in first, the others remaining on the threshold. They all took in at a glance the scene of the crime.
"Sir," he cried, stuttering with suppressed rage, "we have discovered the real assassin! It is he, my adopted son, my heir, Noel!" "Noel!" repeated M. Daburon, rising. And then in a lower tone, he added, "I suspected it." "A warrant is necessary at once," continued the old fellow. "If we lose a minute, he will slip through our fingers.
If you have arrested him, it is quite evident that you have something more than suspicion against him, that you possess positive proofs." M. Daburon bit his lips, and, for a moment, could not conceal a feeling of displeasure. He had neglected his usual prudence, had moved too quickly. He had believed the count's mind entirely upset; and now he had aroused his distrust.
In spite of all this delay, it was not eight o'clock when he presented himself at the magistrate's house, begging him to excuse, on account of the importance of his business, a visit too early not to be indiscreet. Excuses were superfluous. M. Daburon was never disturbed by a call at eight o'clock in the morning. He was already at work.
"He, sir, is an exception; and I shall have greater delight in tracking him. I will do everything for that, I will even compromise myself if necessary. For I ought to confess, M. Daburon," added he, slightly embarrassed, "that I do not boast to my friends of my exploits; I even conceal them as carefully as possible.
During the day, I tried by incessant action to fatigue my body, that at night I might find forgetfulness in sleep. Vain hope! since I found these letters, I have not slept an hour." From time to time, old Tabaret slyly consulted his watch. "M. Daburon will be in bed," thought he. "At last one morning," continued Noel, "after a night of rage, I determined to end all uncertainty.
But M. Daburon, still under the influence of Noel's deposition, was shocked at this apparently unseasonable joy; although he felt the safer for it. He looked severely at old Tabaret, saying, "Hush, sir; be decent, compose yourself." At any other time, the old fellow would have felt ashamed at having deserved such a reprimand. Now, it made no impression on him. "I can't be quiet," he replied.
Summon, I beseech you, all of my grandmother's servants, and inquire if any of them saw Albert that night." "Inquire of your servants! Can you dream of such a thing, mademoiselle?" "What, sir? You fear that I shall be compromised. What of that, if he is only freed?" M. Daburon could not help admiring her. What sublime devotion in this young girl, whether she spoke the truth or not!
"Are you perfectly serious in all you have told me, M. Daburon?" she asked. "I have stated the truth," murmured the magistrate. "You are then very rich?" "I inherited, madame, from my mother, about twenty thousand francs a year. One of my uncles, who died last year, bequeathed me over a hundred thousand crowns. My father is worth about a million.
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