said to me,
'between one and two, with M. Folgat, the commonwealth attorney, and M.
Galpin: put yourself where I will show you, and then let me go to work.'
Then he showed me the place where he wants us to remain, and told me how
we should let him know when we are all ready."

M. Folgat did not hesitate.

"We have not a moment to lose. Let me go at once to the court-house."

But they were hardly in the passage when they were met by Mechinet, who
came running up out of breath, and half mad with delight.

"M. Daubigeon sends me to say you must come to him at once. Great news!
Great news!"

And immediately he told them in a few words what had happened in the
morning,--Trumence's statement, and the deposition of the maid of
Countess Claudieuse.

"Ah, now we are safe!" cried Dr. Seignebos.

M. Folgat was pale with excitement. Still he proposed,--

"Let us tell the marquis and Miss Dionysia what is going on before we
leave the house."

"No," said the doctor, "no! Let us wait till every thing is quite safe.
Let us go quick; let us go at once."

They were right to make haste. The magistrate and the commonwealth
attorney were waiting for them with the greatest impatience. As soon
as they came into the small room of the clerk's office, M. Daubigeon
cried,--

"Well, I suppose Mechinet has told you all?"

"Yes," replied M. Folgat; "but we have some information of which you
have heard as yet nothing."

Then he told them that Suky Wood had arrived, and what she had given in
as evidence.

M. Galpin had sunk into a chair, completely crushed by the weight of
so many proofs of his misapprehension of the case. There he sat without
saying a word, without moving a muscle. But M. Daubigeon was radiant.

"Most assuredly," he cried, "Jacques must be innocent!"

"Most assuredly he is innocent!" said Dr. Seignebos; "and the proof of
it is, that I know who is guilty."

"Oh!"

"And you will know too, if you will take the trouble of following me,
with M. Galpin, to the hospital."

It was just striking one; and not one of them all had eaten any thing
that morning. But they had no time to think of breakfast.

Without a shadow of hesitation, M. Daubigeon turned to M. Galpin, and
said,--

"Will you come, Galpin?"

The poor magistrate rose mechanically, after the manner of an automaton,
and they went out, creating no small sensation among the good people of
Sauveterre, when they appeared thus all in a group.

M. Daubigeo