All the skill in the world could not repair such
an unfortunate mistake. A witness on his guard is no longer a witness to
be depended upon; he trembles for fear of compromising himself, measures
the weight of the questions, and hesitates as to his answers.
On the other hand, justice, in the form of a magistrate, is disposed to
doubt everything, to imagine everything, and to suspect everybody.
How far was the count a stranger to the crime at La Jonchere? Although
doubting Albert's paternity, he would certainly have made great efforts
to save him. His story showed that he thought his honour in peril just
as much as his son. Was he not the man to suppress, by every means, an
inconvenient witness? Thus reasoned M. Daburon. And yet he could not
clearly see how the Count de Commarin's interests were concerned in the
matter. This uncertainty made him very uneasy.
"Sir," he asked, more sternly, "when were you informed of the discovery
of your secret?"
"Last evening, by Albert himself. He spoke to me of this sad story, in a
way which I now seek in vain to explain, unless--"
The count stopped short, as if his reason had been struck by the
improbability of the supposition which he had formed.
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