me. He groaned heavily. The groan
was answered by a sigh from the corner. He was not alone, then!

"Who is there?" asked Jack, uneasily; "is it Belisaire?" he added. But
why should Belisaire be there with him?

"Yes, it is I," answered the man, in a tone of desperation.

"In the name of heaven tell me why we are shut up here like two
criminals?"

"What other people have been doing I can't tell," muttered the old man;
"I only speak for myself, and I have done no harm to any one. My
hats are ruined,--and I, too, for that matter!" continued Belisaire,
dolefully.

"But what have I done?" asked Jack, for he could not imagine that among
the many follies of which he had been guilty there was one more grave
than another.

"They say--But why do you make me tell you? You know well enough what
they say."

"Indeed, I do not; pray, go on."

"Well, they say that you have stolen Zenaide's dowry."

The boy uttered an exclamation of horror. "But you do not believe this,
Belisaire?"

The old man did not answer. Every one at Indret thought Jack guilty.
Every circumstance was against the boy. On the first report of the
robbery, Jack was looked for, but was not to be found. Chariot had
very well managed matters. All along the road there were traces of
the robbery in the gold pieces displayed so liberally. Only one thing
disturbed the belief of the boy's guilt in the minds of the villagers:
what could he have done with the six thousand francs? Neither
Belisaire's pocket nor his own displayed any indication that such a sum
of money had been in their possession.

Soon after daybreak the superintendent sent for the prisoners. They were
covered with mud, and were unwashed and unshorn; yet Jack had a certain
grace and refinement in spite of all this; but Belisaire's naturally
ugly countenance was so distorted by grief and anxiety, that, as the two
appeared, the spectators unanimously decided that this gentle-looking
child was the mere instrument of the wretched being with whom he was
unfortunately connected. As Jack looked about he saw several faces which
seemed like those of some terrible nightmare, and his courage deserted
him. He recognized the sailors, and the proprietors of several of the
wineshops, with many others of those whom he had seen on that
disastrous yesterday. The child begged for a private interview with the
superintendent, and was admitted to the office, where he found Father
Rondic, whom Jack went forward at once