“As well as I see you.”

“Would you recognize her?”

“Among thousands.”

“And if you saw her portrait?”

“I should know it at once.”

M. Folgat handed her the album.

“Well, look for her,” he said.

She had found the likeness in a moment.

“Here she is!” cried Suky, putting her finger on the photograph.

There was no doubt any longer.

“But now, Miss Suky,” said the young advocate, “you will have to repeat all that before a magistrate.”

“I will do so with pleasure.  It is the truth.”

“If that is so, they will send for you at your lodgings, and you will please stay there till you are called.  You need not trouble yourself about any thing.  You shall have whatever you want, and they will pay you your wages as if you were in service.”

M. Folgat had not time to say more; for Dr. Seignebos rushed in like a tempest, and cried out at the top of his voice,—­

“Victory!  We are victorious now!  Great Victory!”

But he could not speak before Suky and the agent.  They were sent off; and, as soon as they had left the room, he said to M. Folgat,—­

“I am just from the hospital.  I have seen Goudar.  He had done it.  He had made Cocoleu talk.”

“And what does he say?”

“Well, exactly what I knew he would say, as soon as they could loose his tongue.  But you will hear it all; for it is not enough that Cocoleu should confess it to Goudar:  there must be witnesses present to certify to the confessions of the wretch.”

“He will not talk before witnesses.”

“He must not see them:  they can be concealed.  The place is admirably adapted for such a purpose.”

“But how, if Cocoleu refuses to talk after the witnesses have been introduced?”

“He will not.  Goudar has found out a way to make him talk whenever he wants it.  Ah! that man is a clever man, and understands his business thoroughly.  Have you full confidence in him?”

“Oh, entire!”

“Well, he says he is sure he will succeed.  ‘Come to-day,’ he said to me, ’between one and two, with M. Folgat, the commonwealth attorney, and M. Galpin:  put yourself where I will show you, and then let me go to work.’  Then he showed me the place where he wants us to remain, and told me how we should let him know when we are all ready.”

M. Folgat did not hesitate.

“We have not a moment to lose.  Let me go at once to the court-house.”

But they were hardly in the passage when they were met by Mechinet, who came running up out of breath, and half mad with delight.

“M.  Daubigeon sends me to say you must come to him at once.  Great news!  Great news!”

And immediately he told them in a few words what had happened in the morning,—­Trumence’s statement, and the deposition of the maid of Countess Claudieuse.