He even then had great trouble in obtaining the exact details of the
arrest; details which later on were confirmed by the commissary's
official report.
The magistrate appeared very surprised when he heard that Albert had
exclaimed, "I am lost!" at sight of the warrant. "That," muttered he,
"is a terrible proof against him."
"I should think so," replied old Tabaret. "In his ordinary state, he
would never have allowed himself to utter such words; for they in fact
destroy him. We arrested him when he was scarcely awake. He hadn't been
in bed, but was lying in a troubled sleep, upon a sofa, when we arrived.
I took good care to let a frightened servant ran in advance, and to
follow closely upon him myself, to see the effect. All my arrangements
were made. But, never fear, he will find a plausible excuse for this
fatal exclamation. By the way, I should add that we found on the floor,
near by, a crumpled copy of last evening's 'Gazette de France,' which
contained an account of the assassination. This is the first time that a
piece of news in the papers ever helped to nab a criminal."
"Yes," murmured the magistrate, deep in thought, "yes, you are a
valuable man, M.
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