. You ought to understand what I
mean. I was afraid I might be punished very severely for having run
off."

"Your silence has led the court to commit a grievous mistake."

"I had no idea M. Jacques would be found guilty. Big people like him,
who can pay great lawyers, always get out of trouble. Besides, I did
not think Count Claudieuse would carry out his threat. To be betrayed by
one's wife is hard; but to send an innocent man to the galleys"--

"Still you see"--

"Ah, if I could have foreseen! My intentions were good; and I assure
you, although I did not come at once to denounce the whole thing, I was
firmly resolved to make a clean breast of it if M. Jacques should get
into trouble. And the proof of it is, that instead of running off, and
going far away, I very quietly lay concealed at the Red Lamb, waiting
for the sentence to be published. As soon as I heard what was done
last night, I did not lose an hour, and surrendered at once to the
gendarmes."

In the meantime, M. Galpin had overcome his first amazement, and now
broke out furiously,--

"This man is an impostor. The money he showed us was paid him to bear
false witness. How can we credit his story?"

"We must investigate the matter," replied M. Daubigeon. He rang the
bell; and, when the usher came in, he asked,--

"Have you done what I told you?"

"Yes, sir," replied the man. "M. de Boiscoran and the servant of Count
Claudieuse are here."

"Bring in the woman: when I ring, show M. de Boiscoran in."

This woman was a big country-girl, plain of face, and square of figure.
She seemed to be very much excited, and looked crimson in her face.

"Do you remember," asked M. Daubigeon, "that one night last week a man
came to your house, and asked to see your mistress?"

"Oh, yes!" replied the honest girl. "I did not want to let him in at
first; but he said he came from the court, and then I let him in."

"Would you recognize him?"

"Certainly."

The commonwealth attorney rang again; the door opened, and Jacques came
in, his face full of amazement and wonder.

"That is the man!" cried the servant.

"May I know?" asked the unfortunate man.

"Not yet!" replied M. Daubigeon. "Go back, and be of good hope!"

But Jacques remained standing where he was, like a man who has suddenly
been overcome, looking all around with amazed eyes, and evidently unable
to comprehend.

How could he have comprehended what was going on?

They had taken him out of his c