In one point, at least, M. de Boiscoran had been right.  Nothing would have been easier for him than to escape, to get into the garden, and to reach the hiding-place which his servant had suggested to him.  But after that?  He had, to be sure, with old Anthony’s assistance, some chance of escaping altogether.  But, after all, he might have been found out in his hiding-place, or he might have been overtaken in his ride to the coast.  Even if he had succeeded, what would have become of him?  His flight would necessarily have been looked upon as a confession of his guilt.

Under such circumstances, to resist the temptation to escape, and to make this resistance well known, was in fact not so much an evidence of innocence as a proof of great cleverness.  M. Galpin, at all events, looked upon it in that light; for he judged others by himself.  Carefully and cunningly calculating every step he took in life, he did not believe in sudden inspirations.  He said, therefore, with an ironical smile, which was to show that he was not so easily taken in,—­

“Very well, sir.  This circumstance shall be mentioned, as well as the others, at the trial.”

Very differently thought the commonwealth attorney and the clerk.  If the magistrate had been too much engaged in his dictation to notice any thing, they had been perfectly able to notice the great excitement under which the accused had naturally labored.  Perfectly amazed at first, and thinking, for a moment, that the whole was a joke, he had next become furiously angry; then fear and utter dejection had followed one another.  But in precise proportion as the charges had accumulated, and the evidence had become overwhelming, he had, so far from becoming demoralized, seemed to recover his assurance.

“There is something curious about it,” growled Mechinet.  M. Daubigeon, on the other hand, said nothing; but when M. de Boiscoran came out of his dressing-room, fully dressed and ready, he said,—­

“One more question, sir.”

The poor man bowed.  He was pale, but calm and self-possessed.

“I am ready to reply,” he said.

“I’ll be brief.  You seemed to be surprised and indignant at any one’s daring to accuse you.  That was weakness.  Justice is but the work of man, and must needs judge by appearances.  If you reflect, you will see that the appearances are all against you.”

“I see it but too clearly.”

“If you were on a jury, you would not hesitate to pronounce a man guilty upon such evidence.”

“No, sir, no!”

The commonwealth attorney bounded from his chair.  He said,—­

“You are not sincere!”

M. de Boiscoran sadly shook his head, and replied,—­

“I speak to you without the slightest hope of convincing you, but in all sincerity.  No, I should not condemn a man, as you say, if he asserted his innocence, and if I did not see any reason for his crime.  For, after all, unless a man is mad, he does not commit a crime for nothing.  Now I ask you, how could I, upon whom fortune has always smiled; I who am on the eve of marrying one whom I love passionately,—­how could I have set Valpinson on fire, and tried to murder Count Claudieuse?”