e, childlike
confidence, the inspired manner in which she spoke of her lover, soon
to be free, and to take her to his heart as his wife, restored
Mademoiselle Scuderi's hopes to some extent.

By way of beginning to do something, she wrote to La Regnie a long
letter, in which she said that Olivier Brusson had proved to her in the
most credible manner his entire innocence of Cardillac's murder, and
that nothing but a heroic resolution to carry to the grave with him a
secret, the disclosure of which would bring destruction upon an
innocent and virtuous person, withheld him from laying a statement
before the Court which would completely clear him from all guilt, and
show that he never belonged to the band at all. She said everything she
could think of, with the best eloquence at her command, which might be
expected to soften La Regnie's hard heart.

He replied to this in a few hours, saying he was very glad that Olivier
had so thoroughly justified himself in the eyes of his kind patron and
protector; but, as regarded his heroic resolution to carry to the grave
with him a secret relating to the crime with which he was charged, he
regretted that the Chambre Ardente could feel no admiration for heroism
of that description, but must endeavour to dispel it by powerful means.
In three days time he had little doubt he would be in possession of the
wondrous secret, which would probably bring many strange matters to
light.

Mademoiselle Scuderi knew well what the terrible La Regnie meant by the
"powerful means," which were to break down Olivier's heroism. It was
but too clear that the unfortunate wretch was threatened with the
torture. In her mortal anxiety it at last occurred to her that, were it
only to gain time, the advice of a lawyer would be of some service.
Pierre Arnaud d'Andilly was at that time the most celebrated advocate
in Paris. His goodness of heart, and his highly honourable character
were on a par with his professional skill and his comprehensive mind.
To him she repaired, and told him the whole tale, as far as it was
possible to do so without divulging Olivier's secret. She expected that
d'Andilly would warmly espouse the cause of this innocent man, but in
this she was wofully disappointed. He listened silently to what she had
to say, and then, with a quiet smile, answered in the words of Boileau,
"Le vrai peut quelquefois n'etre point vraisemblable." He showed her
that there were the most grave and marked suspi