ptiste came in pale and terrified, to say that
Desgrais was at the door. Since the dreadful La Voisin trial the
appearance of Desgrais in a house was the sure precursor of some
criminal accusation. Hence Baptiste's terror, as to which his mistress
asked him with a gentle smile, "What is the matter, Baptiste? Has the
name of Scuderi been found in La Voisin's lists?" "Ah! For Christ's
sake," cried Baptiste, trembling in every limb, "how can you say such a
thing; but Desgrais--the horrible Desgrais--is looking so mysterious,
and presses in so--he seems hardly able to wait till he can see you."
"Well, Baptiste," she said, "bring him in at once, this gentleman who
is so frightful to you, and who to _me_, at all events, can cause no
anxiety."

"President La Regnie sends me to you, Mademoiselle," said Desgrais,
when he entered, "with a request which he scarce would dare to make if
he did not know your goodness and bravery, and if the last hope of
bringing to light an atrocious deed of blood did not lie in your hands,
had you not already taken such interest (as well as bearing a part), in
this case, which is keeping the Chambre Ardente, and all of us, in a
state of such breathless eagerness. Olivier Brusson, since he saw you,
has been almost out of his mind. He still swears by all that is sacred,
that he is completely innocent of Rene Cardillac's death, though he is
ready to suffer the punishment he has deserved. Observe, Mademoiselle,
that the latter admission clearly refers to other crimes of which he
has been guilty. But all attempts to get him to utter anything further
have been vain. He begs and implores to be allowed to have an interview
with you. To you alone will he divulge everything. Vouchsafe then,
Mademoiselle, to listen to Brusson's confession."

"What?" cried Mademoiselle Scuderi, in indignation, "_I_ become an
organ of the criminal court, and abuse the confidence of this
unfortunate fellow to bring him to the scaffold! No! Desgrais. Ruffian
and murderer though he may be, I could never deceive and betray him
thus villainously. I will have nothing to do with his avowal. If I did,
it would be locked up in my heart, as if made to a priest under the
seal of the confessional."

"Perhaps, Mademoiselle," said Desgrais, with a subtle smile, "you might
alter your opinion after hearing Brusson. Did you not beg the President
to be human? This he is, in yielding to Brusson's foolish desire, and
thus trying one more expedie