The son had taken my place, and the mother had ruined me!"
Three or four light knocks at the door of the study interrupted Noel.
"Who is there?" he asked, without stirring.
"Sir," answered the servant from the other side of the door, "madame
wishes to speak to you."
The advocate appeared to hesitate.
"Go, my son," advised M. Tabaret; "do not be merciless, only bigots have
that right."
Noel arose with visible reluctance, and passed into Madame Gerdy's
sleeping apartment.
"Poor boy!" thought M. Tabaret when left alone. "What a fatal discovery!
and how he must feel it. Such a noble young man! such a brave heart!
In his candid honesty he does not even suspect from whence the blow has
fallen. Fortunately I am shrewd enough for two, and it is just when he
despairs of justice, I am confident of obtaining it for him. Thanks to
his information, I am now on the track. A child might now divine whose
hand struck the blow. But how has it happened? He will tell me without
knowing it. Ah! if I had one of those letters for four and twenty hours.
He has probably counted them. If I ask for one, I must acknowledge my
connection with the police.
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