few
days longer? It is evident that if she had not related what she saw, it
is because she had reasons for being silent. It is probable that, being
ill, she did not wish to expose herself to the annoyances and fatigue
of an investigation; and in her eyes her deposition was not of great
importance. What should she have revealed to the prosecution? That the
man who committed the crime was tall, with a curled blond beard? This
man the law held, or it held one the description of whom answered to
this, which to Madame Dammauville was the same thing. She did not
need, therefore, to call the police or the judge to tell them these
insignificant things for her own comfort; and, also, because she
believed that she had nothing interesting to say, she did not speak. It
was when accident brought to her notice the portrait of the accused, she
recognized that the law had not the real criminal, and then she broke
the silence. The moment when she first saw this portrait is not stated
precisely; I undertake to arrange that. The difficulty is not there."

"Where do you see it?"

"Here: Madame Dammauville may have already told her story to so many
persons that it is already public property, where the prosecution has
picked it up. In that case there will be no 'coup de theatre'. She
will be questioned, her deposition examined, and we will have only a
suspected testimony. The first thing to do, then, is to know how far
this story has spread, and if there is yet time to prevent it from
spreading farther."

"That is not easy, it seems to me."

"I believe Mademoiselle Phillis can do it. She is a brave woman, whom
nothing dejects or disconcerts, which is the living proof that we
are only valued according to the force and versatility of the inner
consciousness. For the rest, I need not sound her praises, since you
know her better than I; and what I say has no other object but to
explain the confidence that I place in her. As I cannot interfere
myself, I think there is no better person than she to act on Madame
Dammauville, without disturbing or wounding her, and to bring about
the result that we desire. I am sure that she has already won Madame
Dammauville, and that she will be listened to with sympathy."

"Do you wish me to write to her to come to see you tomorrow?"

"No; it would be better for you so see her this evening, if possible."

"I shall go to the Batignolles when I leave you."

"She will enter into her part perfectly, I am cer