"He was forced to do so; she tormented him, and he was afraid of
her. When she had spent all her money she sent to him for more,
and he gave it. Once he refused; and that very evening she went
to him the worse for wine, and he had the greatest difficulty in
the world to send her away again. In short, she knew what his
relations with Madame Sauvresy had been, and she threatened him;
it was a regular black-mailing operation. He told me all about
the trouble she gave him, and added that he would not be able to
get rid of her without shutting her up, which he could not bring
himself to do."

"How long ago was their last interview?"

"Why," answered the doctor, "not three weeks ago, when I had a
consultation at Melun, I saw the count and this demoiselle at a
hotel window; when he saw me he suddenly drew back."

"Then," said the detective, "there is no longer any doubt--"

He stopped. Guespin came in between two gendarmes.

The unhappy gardener had aged twenty years in twenty-four hours.
His eyes were haggard, his dry lips were bordered with foam.

"Let us see," said the judge. "Have you changed your mind about
speaking?"

The prisoner did not answer.

"Have you decided to tell us about yourself?"

Guespin's rage made him tremble from head to foot, and his eyes
became fiery.

"Speak!" said he hoarsely. "Why should I?"

He added with the gesture of a desperate man who abandons himself,
renounces all struggling and all hope:

"What have I done to you, my God, that you torture me this way?
What do you want me to say? That I did this crime--is that what
you want? Well, then--yes--it was I. Now you are satisfied.
Now cut my head off, and do it quick--for I don't want to suffer
any longer."

A mournful silence welcomed Guespin's declaration. What, he
confessed it!

M. Domini had at least the good taste not to exult; he kept still,
and yet this avowal surprised him beyond all expression.

M. Lecoq alone, although surprised, was not absolutely put out of
countenance. He approached Guespin and tapping him on the shoulder,
said in a paternal tone:

"Come, comrade, what you are telling us is absurd. Do you think
the judge has any secret grudge against you? No, eh? Do you
suppose I am interested to have you guillotined? Not at all. A
crime has been committed, and we are trying to find the assassin.
If you are innocent, help us to find the man who isn't: What were
you doing from Wednesday evening till Thursday morn