“You killed her,” continued the count with increased energy, “if not by poison, at least by your crime.  I understand all now; she was not delirious this morning.  But you know as well as I do what she was saying.  You were listening, and, if you dared to enter at that moment when one word more would have betrayed you, it was because you had calculated the effect of your presence.  It was to you that she addressed her last word, ‘Assassin!’”

Little by little, Noel had retired to the end of the room, and he stood leaning against the wall, his head thrown back, his hair on end, his look haggard.  A convulsive trembling shook his frame.  His face betrayed a terror most horrible to see, the terror of the criminal found out.

“I know all, you see,” continued the count; “and I am not alone in my knowledge.  At this moment, a warrant of arrest is issued against you.”

A cry of rage like a hollow rattle burst from the advocate’s breast.  His lips, which were hanging through terror, now grew firm.  Overwhelmed in the very midst of his triumph, he struggled against this fright.  He drew himself up with a look of defiance.

M. de Commarin, without seeming to pay any attention to Noel, approached his writing table, and opened a drawer.

“My duty,” said he, “would be to leave you to the executioner who awaits you; but I remember that I have the misfortune to be your father.  Sit down; write and sign a confession of your crime.  You will then find fire-arms in this drawer.  May heaven forgive you!”

The old nobleman moved towards the door.  Noel with a sign stopped him, and drawing at the same time a revolver from his pocket, he said:  “Your fire-arms are needless, sir; my precautions, as you see, are already taken; they will never catch me alive.  Only——­”

“Only?” repeated the count harshly.

“I must tell you, sir,” continued the advocate coldly, “that I do not choose to kill myself—­at least, not at present.”

“Ah!” cried M. de Commarin in disgust, “you are a coward!”

“No, sir, not a coward; but I will not kill myself until I am sure that every opening is closed against me, that I cannot save myself.”

“Miserable wretch!” said the count, threateningly, “must I then do it myself?”

He moved towards the drawer, but Noel closed it with a kick.

“Listen to me, sir,” said he, in that hoarse, quick tone, which men use in moments of imminent danger, “do not let us waste in vain words the few moments’ respite left me.  I have committed a crime, it is true, and I do not attempt to justify it; but who laid the foundation of it, if not yourself?  Now, you do me the favor of offering me a pistol.  Thanks.  I must decline it.  This generosity is not through any regard for me.  You only wish to avoid the scandal of my trial, and the disgrace which cannot fail to reflect upon your name.”

The count was about to reply.