"Unless!--" inquired the magistrate eagerly.
"Sir," said the count, without replying directly, "Albert is a hero, if
he is not guilty."
"Ah!" said the magistrate quickly, "have you, then, reason to think him
innocent?"
M. Daburon's spite was so plainly visible in the tone of his words that
M. de Commarin could and ought to have seen the semblance of an insult.
He started, evidently offended, and rising, said: "I am now no more a
witness for, than I was a moment ago a witness against. I desire only to
render what assistance I can to justice, in accordance with my duty."
"Confound it," said M. Daburon to himself, "here I have offended him
now! Is this the way to do things, making mistake after mistake?"
"The facts are these," resumed the count. "Yesterday, after having
spoken to me of these cursed letters, Albert began to set a trap to
discover the truth,--for he still had doubts, Noel Gerdy not having
obtained the complete correspondence. An animated discussion arose
between us. He declared his resolution to give way to Noel. I, on the
other hand, was resolved to compromise the matter, cost what it might.
Albert dared to oppose me.
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