cessity to produce some important evidence not then
forthcoming, would induce him to grant a postponement.

M. Baillot replied at once, "Such, sir, is our case; a witness, whose
evidence is of the highest moment, is not to be found; a day or two
might enable us to obtain his testimony. It is upon this we ground our
hope, our certainty, of an acquittal. The court will not, I am certain,
refuse its clemency in such an emergency as this."

"Where is this same witness to be found? Is he in Paris? Is he in
France?"

"We hope in Paris, Monsieur le President."

"And his name?"

"The Abbe d'Ervan."

A strange murmur ran along the bench of judges at the words; and I could
see that some of them smiled in spite of their efforts to seem grave,
while the Procureur-General did not scruple to laugh outright.

"I believe, sir," said he, addressing the President, "that I can
accommodate my learned brother with this so-much desired testimony
perhaps more speedily, I will not say than he wishes, but than he
expects."

"How is this?" said my advocate, in a whisper to me. "They have this
Abbe then. Has he turned against his party?"

"I know nothing of him," said I, recklessly; "falsehood and treachery
seem so rife here, that it can well be as you say."

"The Abbe d'Ervan!" cried a loud voice; and with the words the
well-known figure moved rapidly from the crowd and mounted the steps of
the platform.

"You are lost!" said Baillot, in a low, solemn voice; "it is Mehee de la
Touche himself!"

Had the words of my sentence rung in my ears I had not felt them more,
that name, by some secret spell, had such terror in it.

"You know the prisoner before you, sir?" said the President, turning
towards the Abbe.

Before he could reply, my advocate broke in:--

"Pardon me, sir; but previous to the examination of this respectable
witness, I would ask under what name he is to figure in this process?
Is he here the Abbe d'Ervan, the agreeable and gifted frequenter of the
Faubourg St. Germain?--is he the Chevalier Maupret, the companion and
associate of the house of Bourbon?--or is he the no less celebrated and
esteemed citizen Mehe e de la Touche, whose active exertions have been
of such value in these eventful times that we should think no recompense
sufficient for them had he not been paid by both parties? Yes, sir,"
continued he, in an altered tone, "I repeat it: we are prepared to show
that this man is unworthy of all credit; that h