t bring
dishonor upon it. I have no time to lose."

As he spoke he placed the contents of the locket between his lips and
swallowed them.

"Ah," murmured he, as he did so, "with my constitution and digestion, it
is really hard to end thus."

No one had noticed the doctor's movements, for Lecoq had moved the
screen, and was showing the commissary a hole which had been made in the
wall large enough for the body of a man to pass through. But a sudden
sound cut these investigations short, for Hortebise had fallen to the
ground, and was struggling in a series of terrible convulsions.

"How stupid of me not to have foreseen this," exclaimed Lecoq. "He has
poisoned himself; let some one run for a doctor. Take him into another
room and lay him on a bed."

While these orders were being carried out, Catenac was removed to a
cab which was in waiting, and Martin Rigal seemed to have lapsed into a
state of moody imbecility. Suddenly he started to his feet, crying,--

"My daughter Flavia! yes, her name is Flavia, what is to become of her?
She has no fortune, and she is married to a man who can never provide
for her. My child will perhaps starve. Oh, horrible thought!"

The man's strong mind had evidently given way, and his love for his
child and the hideous future that lay before her had broken down
the barrier that divides reason from insanity. He was secured by the
officers, raving and struggling. When Lecoq was left alone with the
Duke, Paul and Flavia, he cast a glimpse of pity at the young girl,
who had crouched down in a corner, and evidently hardly understood the
terrible scene that had just passed.

"Your Grace," said he, turning to the Duke, "you have been the victim of
a foul conspiracy; this young man is not your son; he is Paul Violaine,
and is the son of a poor woman who kept a petty haberdashery shop in the
provinces."

The miserable young fool began to bluster, and attempted to deny this
statement; but Lecoq opened the door, and Rose appeared in a most
becoming costume. Paul now made no effort to continue his protestations,
but throwing himself on his knees, in whining accents confessed the
whole fraud and pleaded for mercy, promising to give evidence against
his accomplices.

"Do not despair, your Grace," said Lecoq, as he conducted the Duke to
his carriage; "this certainly is not your son; but _I_ have found him,
and to-morrow, if you like, you shall be introduced to him."

CHAPTER XXXV.

"EVERY M