We shrugged our shoulders.  For my part, I could not shake off the bad impression which the envoy had made on me.  The gleams of craft and triumph which now and again I had detected in his eyes were not to my liking.  Assuredly few men are responsible for any physical repulsiveness; we cannot all be ‘Belvedere’ Apollos; but then the envoy was not only of the ugly, but also the cunning-looking class.  Yet a more honourable man never breathed.  He at once thrust one hand into the depths of a capacious inner pocket, produced the mysterious envelope, and opened it in our presence.  It contained simply a long letter from Maitre Labori, accompanied by a document concerning the prosecution which had been instituted with reference to the infamous articles that Ernest Judet, of the ‘Petit Journal,’ had recently written, accusing Zola’s father of theft and embezzlement whilst he was a wardrobe officer in the French Foreign Legion in Algeria.  It was needful that Zola should see this document, and return it by messenger to Paris immediately.

The affair in question is still sub judice, and I must therefore speak of it with some reticence.  But all who are interested in M. Zola’s origin and career will do well to read the admirable volume written by M. Jacques Dhur, and entitled ‘Le Pere d’Emile Zola,’ which the Societe Libre d’Edition des Gens de Lettres (30, Rue Laffitte, Paris) published a short time ago.  This will show them how strong are the presumptions that the documents cited by Judet in proof of his abominable charges are rank forgeries—­similar to those of Henry and Lemercier-Picard!  In this connection it afforded me much pleasure to be able to supply certain extracts from Francesco Zola’s works at the British Museum, showing how subsequent to the date at which the novelist’s father is alleged to have purloined State money he was received with honour by King Louis-Philippe, the Prince de Joinville, the Minister of War, and other high personages of the time—­incidents which all tend to establish the falsity of the accusations by which Judet, in his venomous spite and malignity, hoped to cast opprobrium on the parentage of my dear master and friend.

But I must return to Maitre Labori’s envoy.  When I had seen the contents of his envelope I heartily apologised to him for the suspicions which I had cast upon his good faith.  At this he smiled more maliciously and triumphantly than ever, and then candidly remarked:  ’Well, if you have tested me, I have tested you, and I shall be able to tell all our friends in Paris that M. Zola is in safe hands.’

According to our previous agreement we re-sealed the envelope, writing across it that it had been opened in the presence of Wareham and myself.  And afterwards our reconciliation also was ‘sealed’ over a friendly glass.  Nevertheless the envoy never saw M. Zola.  M. Desmoulin luckily turned up on the morrow, and, armed with a fresh note from the master, persuaded our little French friend to hand him the documents.