Elizabeth: it was the only way he could, at the moment, express the
sympathy he had never ceased to feel for her.

Monsieur Fuselier filled in a printed paper and pressed an electric
bell.

Two municipal guards appeared.

Monsieur Fuselier rose and signing to the soldiers to wait, he faced
Elizabeth Dollon.

"Mademoiselle, have you any objections to make to the statements of
Monsieur Jerome Fandor? Will you say whether or no you received a visit
from your brother?"

Elizabeth, tortured by intense emotion, her throat contracted, strove in
vain to pronounce a word; at last, by a supreme effort, she murmured in
a strangled voice:

"Oh! Why, you are all mad here!"

As she gave no direct reply to his question, Monsieur Fuselier, after a
pause, announced in a grave voice:

"Mademoiselle! Until I have more ample information, I am under the cruel
necessity of ordering your arrest!... Guards, arrest the accused!" cried
the magistrate sternly.

Elizabeth Dollon made a movement of revolt, when she saw herself
surrounded and felt her arms seized by the two representatives of
authority. She was about to cry out in protest, but a glance--it seemed
to her a tender glance--from Fandor restrained her.... She stood
speechless, inert. After all, had she not confidence in him, although
she could not understand his attitude! Had he not been her staunch
defender up to now? Had he not warned her that she must not be
astonished at anything that occurred--that she must be prepared for
anything?... Nevertheless, Elizabeth Dollon felt her brain reeling--she
was astounded beyond words.... The surprise was too strong for her....

* * * * *

About a quarter of an hour after this tragic scene, Fandor was pacing up
and down the asphalt of the boulevard du Palais, plunged in thought,
when someone clapped him on the shoulder. He turned. It was Monsieur
Fuselier.

"Well, my dear fellow!" cried the magistrate, resuming his customary
tone of good fellowship. "Well, what an adventure! You have been playing
some fine tricks! I never expected such a stroke as that, the deuce if I
did!"

"Ho, ho!" laughed Fandor, "I think that a week from to-day we shall know
a good many things!"

"Well," replied the magistrate, "I have had the girl placed in solitary
confinement--that makes them willing to speak out!...."

Fandor looked the magistrate up and down.

"Ah!" murmured he, with a scarcely perceptible note of con