called, the most powerful adjuncts of the law; for though it must
be owned that the force of circumstances has abrogated the ancient pomp
and wealth of justice, it has materially gained in many ways. In Paris
especially its machinery is admirably perfect.

Monsieur de Granville had sent his secretary, Monsieur de Chargeboeuf,
to attend Lucien's funeral; he needed a substitute for this business, a
man he could trust, and Monsieur Garnery was one of the commissioners in
the Delegates' office.

"Monsieur," said Jacques Collin, "I have already proved to you that I
have a sense of honor. You let me go free, and I came back.--By this
time the funeral mass for Lucien is ended; they will be carrying him to
the grave. Instead of remanding me to the Conciergerie, give me leave to
follow the boy's body to Pere-Lachaise. I will come back and surrender
myself prisoner."

"Go," said Monsieur de Granville, in the kindest tone.

"One word more, monsieur. The money belonging to that girl--Lucien's
mistress--was not stolen. During the short time of liberty you allowed
me, I questioned her servants. I am sure of them as you are of your
two commissioners of the Delegates' office. The money paid for the
certificate sold by Mademoiselle Esther Gobseck will certainly be found
in her room when the seals are removed. Her maid remarked to me that the
deceased was given to mystery-making, and very distrustful; she no doubt
hid the banknotes in her bed. Let the bedstead be carefully examined and
taken to pieces, the mattresses unsewn--the money will be found."

"You are sure of that?"

"I am sure of the relative honesty of my rascals; they never play any
tricks on me. I hold the power of life and death; I try and condemn them
and carry out my sentence without all your formalities. You can see for
yourself the results of my authority. I will recover the money
stolen from Monsieur and Madame Crottat; I will hand you over one of
Bibi-Lupin's men, his right hand, caught in the act; and I will tell you
the secret of the Nanterre murders. This is not a bad beginning. And if
you only employ me in the service of the law and the police, by the
end of a year you will be satisfied with all I can tell you. I will be
thoroughly all that I ought to be, and shall manage to succeed in all
the business that is placed in my hands."

"I can promise you nothing but my goodwill. What you ask is not in my
power. The privilege of granting pardons is the King's a