“February 11th, Shrove Tuesday.  It is the only time I have been to Versailles.  The contrary might be supposed; for I have allowed it to be understood that I have often seen Madame de Lamotte since she left my house, and was acquainted with all her actions, and that the former confidence and friendship still existed between us.  In allowing this, I have acted a lie, and transgressed the habitual sincerity of my whole life.”

This assertion produced a bad impression on the magistrate.  Derues perceived it, and to avert evil consequences, hastened to add—­

“My conduct can only be appreciated when it is known in entirety.  I misunderstood the meaning of Madame de Lamotte’s letter.  She asked me to send her her son, I thought to oblige her by accompanying him, and not leaving him to go alone.  So we travelled together, and arrived at Versailles about midday.  As I got down from the coach I saw Madame de Lamotte at the palace gate, and observed, to my astonishment, that my presence displeased her.  She was not alone.”

He stopped, although he had evidently reached the most interesting point of his story.

“Go on,” said the magistrate; “why do you stop now?”

“Because what I have to say is so painful—­not to me, who have to justify myself, but for others, that I hesitate.”

“Go on.”

“Will you then interrogate me, please?”

“Well, what happened in this interview?”

Derues appeared to collect himself for a moment, and then said with the air of a man who has decide on speaking out at last—­

“Madame de Lamotte was not alone; she was attended by a gentleman whom I did not know, whom I never saw either at Buisson-Souef or in Paris, and whom I have never seen again since.  I will ask you to allow me to recount everything; even to the smallest details.  This man’s face struck me at once, on account of a singular resemblance; he paid no attention to me at first, and I was able to examine him at leisure.  His manners were those of a man belonging to the highest classes of society, and his dress indicated wealth.  On seeing Edouard, he said to Madame de Lamotte—­

“‘So this is he?’ and he then kissed him tenderly.  This and the marks of undisguised pleasure which he evinced surprised me, and I looked at Madame de Lamotte, who then remarked with some asperity—­

“’I did not expect to see you, Monsieur Derues.  I had not asked you to accompany my son.’

“Edouard seemed quite as much surprised as I was.  The stranger gave me a look of haughty annoyance, but seeing I did not avoid his glance his countenance assumed a more gentle expression, and Madame de Lamotte introduced him as a person who took great interest in Edouard.”

“It is a whole tissue of imposture!” exclaimed Monsieur de Lamotte.

“Allow me to finish,” answered Derues.  “I understand your doubts, and that you are not anxious to believe what I say, but I have been brought here by legal summons to tell the truth, and I am going to tell it.  You can then weigh the two accusations in the balance, and choose between them.  The reputation of an honourable man is as sacred, as important, as worthy of credit as the reputation of a woman, and I never heard that the virtue of the one was more fragile than that of the other.”