“In truth,” replied the advocate, seating himself, “I have experienced a rude shock.”

Noel was making visibly the greatest efforts to appear calm, to listen to the old fellow, and to answer him.  Old Tabaret, as much disquieted on his side, perceived nothing.

“At least, my dear boy,” said he, “tell me how this happened?”

The young man hesitated a moment, as if consulting with himself.  No doubt he was unprepared for this point blank question, and knew not what answer to make; at last he replied,—­

“Madame Gerdy has suffered a severe shock in learning from a paragraph in this newspaper that a woman in whom she takes a strong interest has been assassinated.”

“Ah!” replied old Tabaret.

The old fellow was in a fever of embarrassment.  He wanted to question Noel, but was restrained by the fear of revealing the secret of his association with the police.  Indeed he had almost betrayed himself by the eagerness with which he exclaimed,—­

“What! your mother knew the Widow Lerouge?”

By an effort he restrained himself, and with difficulty dissembled his satisfaction; for he was delighted to find himself so unexpectedly on the trace of the antecedents of the victim of La Jonchere.

“She was,” continued Noel, “the slave of Madame Gerdy, devoted to her in every way!  She would have sacrificed herself for her at a sign from her hand.”

“Then you, my dear friend, you knew this poor woman!”

“I had not seen her for a very long time,” replied Noel, whose voice seemed broken by emotion, “but I knew her well.  I ought even to say I loved her tenderly.  She was my nurse.”

“She, this woman?” stammered old Tabaret.

This time he was thunderstruck.  Widow Lerouge Noel’s nurse?  He was most unfortunate.  Providence had evidently chosen him for its instrument, and was leading him by the hand.  He was about to obtain all the information, which half an hour ago he had almost despaired of procuring.  He remained seated before Noel amazed and speechless.  Yet he understood, that, unless he would compromise himself, he must speak.

“It is a great misfortune,” he murmured at last.

“What it is for Madame Gerdy, I cannot say,” replied Noel with a gloomy air; “but, for me, it is an overwhelming misfortune!  I am struck to the heart by the blow which has slain this poor woman.  Her death, M. Tabaret, has annihilated all my dreams of the future, and probably overthrown my most cherished hopes.  I had to avenge myself for cruel injuries; her death breaks the weapon in my hands, and reduces me to despair, to impotence.  Alas!  I am indeed unfortunate.”

“You unfortunate?” cried old Tabaret, singularly affected by his dear Noel’s sadness.  “In heaven’s name, what has happened to you?”

“I suffer,” murmured the advocate, “and very cruelly.  Not only do I fear that the injustice is irreparable; but here am I totally without defence delivered over to the shafts of calumny.  I may be accused of inventing falsehood, of being an ambitious intriguer, having no regard for truth, no scruples of conscience.”