"
"What?" asked M. Daburon.
"The necessity for the examination of those letters. Noel will discover
my interference. He will despise me: he will fly from me, when he knows
that Tabaret and Tirauclair sleep in the same nightcap. Before eight
days are past, my oldest friends will refuse to shake hands with me, as
if it were not an honour to serve justice. I shall be obliged to change
my residence, and assume a false name."
He almost wept, so great was his annoyance. M. Daburon was touched.
"Reassure yourself, my dear M. Tabaret," said he. "I will manage that
your adopted son, your Benjamin, shall know nothing. I will lead him to
believe I have reached him by means of the widow's papers."
The old fellow seized the magistrate's hand in a transport of gratitude,
and carried it to his lips. Oh! thanks, sir, a thousand thanks! I should
like to be permitted to witness the arrest; and I shall be glad to
assist at the perquisitions."
"I intended to ask you to do so, M. Tabaret," answered the magistrate.
The lamps paled in the gray dawn of the morning; already the rumbling of
vehicles was heard; Paris was awaking.
"I have no time to lose," continued M.
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