tion her in a way that would lead her to say what
you want to learn."

"I hope that your investigation will tell me. In any case, let us offend
in nothing. If to-morrow you bring me only insignificant details, we
will consider what to do. In the mean time, return to the concierge this
evening and question her. If it is possible, see Madame Dammauville,
and do not go home until after having obtained some news on this subject
that is of such importance to us. And I will go to see Nougarde."

CHAPTER XXV. DANGEROUS DETAILS

It was not to falsify Phillis's story that Saniel insisted on going
to see Nougarede. What good would it do? That would be a blunder which
sooner or later would show itself, and in that case would turn against
him. He would have liked, with the authority of a physician, to explain
that this testimony of a paralytic could have no more importance than
that of a crazy woman.

But at the first words of an explanation Nougarede stopped him.

"What you say is very possible, my dear friend; but I shall make you
see that it is not for us to raise objections of this kind. Here is a
testimony that may save our client; let us accept this, such as it may
be, whence it comes. It is the business of the prosecution to prove that
our witness could not see what she relates that she saw, or that her
mental condition does not permit her to know what she saw; and do not
be afraid, investigation will not be lacking. Do not let us even give a
hint from our side; that would be stupid."

This, certainly, was not what Saniel wished; only he believed it a duty,
in his quality of physician, to indicate some rocks against which they
might strike themselves.

"Our duty," continued the advocate, "is, therefore, to manage in a way
to escape them; and this is how I understand the role of this really
providential witness, if it is possible to make her undertake it.
Since it has occurred to you--you who wish the acquittal of this poor
boy--that the testimony of Madame Dammauville may be vitiated by the
simple fact that it comes from a sick woman, it is incontestable, is
it not, that this same idea will occur to those who wish for his
conviction? This testimony should be irrefutable; it should be presented
in such a way that no one could raise anything against it, so that it
would compel the acquittal in the same moment that it is presented. It
was between a quarter past and half past five o'clock that Caffie was
assassinat