ed apartments. What did you come here
for?" He waited for a few moments. Then, as she still remained silent,
he continued: "Since you will not confess, madame, I shall be obliged to
verify the state of things."

In the bed could be seen the outline of a form hidden beneath the
clothes. The commissary approached and said: "Sir."

The man in bed did not stir. He seemed to have his back turned, and his
head buried under a pillow. The commissary touched what seemed to be his
shoulder, and said: "Sir, do not, I beg of you, force me to take
action."

But the form still remained as motionless as a corpse. Du Roy, who had
advanced quickly, seized the bed-clothes, pulled them down, and tearing
away the pillow, revealed the pale face of Monsieur Laroche-Mathieu. He
bent over him, and, quivering with the desire to seize him by the throat
and strangle him, said, between his clenched teeth: "Have at least the
courage of your infamy."

The commissary again asked: "Who are you?"

The bewildered lover not replying, he continued: "I am a commissary of
police, and I summon you to tell me your name."

George, who was quivering with brutal wrath, shouted: "Answer, you
coward, or I will tell your name myself."

Then the man in the bed stammered: "Mr. Commissary, you ought not to
allow me to be insulted by this person. Is it with you or with him that
I have to do? Is it to you or to him that I have to answer?"

His mouth seemed to be dried up as he spoke.

The commissary replied: "With me, sir; with me alone. I ask you who you
are?"

The other was silent. He held the sheet close up to his neck, and rolled
his startled eyes. His little, curled-up moustache showed up black upon
his blanched face.

The commissary continued: "You will not answer, eh? Then I shall be
forced to arrest you. In any case, get up. I will question you when you
are dressed."

The body wriggled in the bed, and the head murmured: "But I cannot,
before you."

The commissary asked: "Why not?"

The other stammered: "Because I am--I am--quite naked."

Du Roy began to chuckle sneeringly, and picking up a shirt that had
fallen onto the floor, threw it onto the bed, exclaiming: "Come, get up.
Since you have undressed in my wife's presence, you can very well dress
in mine."

Then he turned his back, and returned towards the fireplace. Madeleine
had recovered all her coolness, and seeing that all was lost, was ready
to dare anything. Her eyes glittered with b