approval followed this testimony. Bordin asked permission of
the Court to address a few questions to the witness.

"Does the senator think that his abduction was due to other causes than
the interests respecting property which the prosecution attributes to
the prisoners?"

"I do," replied the senator, "but I am wholly ignorant of what the real
motives were; for during a captivity of twenty days I saw and heard no
one."

"Do you think," said the public prosecutor, "that your chateau at
Gondreville contains information, title-deeds, or other papers of value
which would induce a search on the part of the Messieurs de Simeuse?"

"I do not think so," replied Malin; "I believe those gentlemen to be
incapable of attempting to get possession of such papers by violence.
They had only to ask me for them to obtain them."

"You burned certain papers in the park, did you not?" said Monsieur de
Gondreville, abruptly.

Malin looked at Grevin. After exchanging a rapid glance with the notary,
which Bordin intercepted, he replied that he had not burned any papers.
The public prosecutor having asked him to describe the ambush to which
he had so nearly fallen a victim two years earlier, the senator replied
that he had seen Michu watching him from the fork of a tree. This
answer, which agreed with Grevin's testimony, produced a great
impression.

The four gentlemen remained impassible during the examination of their
enemy, who seemed determined to overwhelm them with generosity. Laurence
suffered horrible agony. From time to time the Marquis de Chargeboeuf
held her by the arm, fearing she might dart forward to the rescue. The
Comte de Gondreville retired from the courtroom and as he did so he
bowed to the four gentlemen, who did not return the salutation. This
trifling matter made the jury indignant.

"They are lost now," whispered Bordin to the Marquis de Chargeboeuf.

"Alas, yes! and always through the nobility of their sentiments,"
replied the marquis.

"My task is now only too easy, gentlemen," said the prosecutor, rising
to address the jury.

He explained the use of the cement by the necessity of securing an iron
frame on which to fasten a padlock which held the iron bar with which
the gate of the cavern was closed; a description of which was given in
the _proces-verbal_ made that morning by Pigoult. He put the falsehoods
of the accused into the strongest light, and pulverized the arguments
of the defence with the new evi