“Pray,” interrupted old Tabaret, now become very attentive, “do not omit a single detail; it may be very important, you understand.”

“The viscount,” continued Noel, “appeared very much put out.  ’The fact is,’ he explained, ’I had already disposed of my time.  This is the hour at which I call on the young lady to whom I am engaged, Mademoiselle d’Arlange.  Can we not postpone this conversation?’”

“Good! another woman!” said the old fellow to himself.

“I answered the viscount, that an explanation would admit of no delay; and, as I saw him prepare to dismiss me, I drew from my pocket the count’s correspondence, and presented one of the letters to him.  On recognizing his father’s handwriting, he became more tractable, declared himself at my service, and asked permission to write a word of apology to the lady by whom he was expected.  Having hastily written the note he handed it to his valet, and ordered him to send at once to Madame d’Arlange, He then asked me to pass into the next room, which was his library.”

“One word,” interrupted the old fellow; “was he troubled on seeing the letters?”

“Not the least in the world.  After carefully closing the door, he pointed to a chair, seated himself, and said, ’Now, sir, explain yourself.’  I had had time to prepare myself for this interview whilst waiting in the ante-room.  I had decided to go straight to the point.  ‘Sir,’ said I, ’my mission is painful.  The facts I am about to reveal to you are incredible.  I beg you, do not answer me until you have read the letters I have here.  I beseech you, above all, to keep calm.’  He looked at me with an air of extreme surprise, and answered, ’Speak!  I can hear all.’  I stood up, and said, ’Sir, I must inform you that you are not the legitimate son of M. de Commarin, as this correspondence will prove to you.  The legitimate son exists; and he it is who sends me.’  I kept my eyes on his while speaking, and I saw there a passing gleam of fury.  For a moment I thought he was about to spring at my throat.  He soon recovered himself.  ‘The letters,’ said he in a short tone.  I handed them to him.”

“How!” cried old Tabaret, “these letters,—­the true ones?  How imprudent!”

“And why?”

“If he had—­I don’t know; but—­” the old fellow hesitated.

The advocate laid his hand upon his friend’s shoulder.  “I was there,” said he in a hollow tone; “and I promise you the letters were in no danger.”

Noel’s features assumed such an expression of ferocity that the old fellow was almost afraid, and recoiled instinctively.  “He would have killed him,” thought he.

“That which I have done for you this evening, my friend,” resumed the advocate, “I did for the viscount.  I obviated, at least for the moment, the necessity of reading all of these hundred and fifty-six letters.  I told him only to stop at those marked with a cross, and to carefully read the passages indicated with a red pencil.”