The little encounter broke the prisoner’s heart, and deprived her of the only consoling thought so many misfortunes had left her.

CHAPTER VIII

PAYING THE PENALTY

“Le Chevalier is the adored one.”

It was thus that Licquet summarised his first conversation with Mme. Acquet.  He had been certain for some time that her unbridled passion for her hero held such a place in her heart that it had stifled all other feeling.  For his sake she had harboured Allain’s men; for him she had so often gone to brave the scornful reception of Joseph Buquet; and for him she had so long endured the odious life in Vannier’s house.  Licquet decided that so violent a passion, “well handled,” might throw some new light on affairs.  This incomparable comedian should have been seen playing his cruel game.  In what manner did he listen to the love-sick confidences of his prisoner?  In what sadly sympathetic tones did he reply to the glowing pictures she drew of her lover?  For she spoke of little else, and Licquet listened silently until the moment when, in a burst of feeling, he took both her hands, and as if grieved at seeing her duped, exclaiming with hypocritical regard:  “My poor child!  Is it not better to tell you everything?” made her believe that Le Chevalier had denounced her.  She refused at first to believe it.  Why should her lover have done such an infamous thing?  But Licquet gave reasons.  Le Chevalier, while in the Temple had learned, from Vannier or others, of her relations with Chauvel, and in revenge had set the police on the track of his faithless friend.  And so the man for whom she had sacrificed her life no longer loved her!  Licquet, in order to torture her, overwhelmed the unhappy woman with the intentionally clumsy consolation that only accentuates grief.  She wept much, and had but one thing to say.

“I should like to save him in spite of his ingratitude.”

This was not at all what the detective wished.  He had hoped she would, in her turn, accuse the man who had betrayed her; but he could gain nothing on this point.  She felt no desire for revenge.  The letters she wrote to Le Chevalier (Licquet encouraged correspondence between prisoners) are full of the sadness of a broken but still loving heart.

“It is not when a friend is unfortunate that one should reproach him, and I am far from doing so to you, in spite of your conduct as regards me.  You know I did everything for you,—­I am not reproaching you for it,—­and after all, you have denounced me!  I forgive you with all my heart, if that can do you any good, but I know your reason for being so unjust to me; you thought I had abandoned you, but I swear to you I had not.”