papers, seemed ready to talk of insignificant things, while the
registrar's bald head was bent over his black table as he rapidly took
notes. The interview took on a grave tone, but as between two men who,
meeting in a salon, speak of the morning or of the premiere of the
evening before, and M. Ginory asked M. Dantin for some information in
regard to M. Rovere.

"Did you know him intimately?"

"Yes, M. le Juge."

"For how many years?"

"For more than forty. We were comrades at a school in Bordeaux."

"You are a Bordelais?"

"Like Rovere, yes," Dantin replied.

"Of late, have you seen M. Rovere frequently?"

"I beg your pardon, M. le Juge, but what do you mean by of late?"

M. Ginory believed that he had discovered in this question put by a man
who was himself being interrogated--a tactic--a means of finding before
replying, time for reflection. He was accustomed to these manoeuvres
of the accused.

"When I say of late," he replied, "I mean during the past few weeks or
days which preceded the murder--if that suits you."

"I saw him often, in fact, even oftener than formerly."

"Why?"

Jacques Dantin seemed to hesitate. "I do not know--chance. In Paris one
has intimate friends, one does not see them for some months; and
suddenly one sees them again, and one meets them more frequently."

"Have you ever had any reason for the interruptions in your relations
with M. Rovere when you ceased to see him, as you say?"

"None whatever."

"Was there between you any sort of rivalry, any motive for coldness?"

"Any motive--any rivalry. What do you mean?"

"I do not know," said the great man; "I ask you. I am questioning you."

The registrar's pen ran rapidly and noiselessly over the paper, with the
speed of a bird on the wing.

These words, "I am questioning you," seemed to make an unexpected,
disagreeable impression on Dantin, and he frowned.

"When did you visit Rovere the last time?"

"The last time?"

"Yes. Strive to remember."

"Two or three days before the murder."

"It was not two or three days; it was two days exactly before the
assassination."

"You are right, I beg your pardon."

The Examining Magistrate waited a moment, looking the man full in the
eyes. It seemed to him that a slight flush passed over his hitherto pale
face.

"Do you suspect anyone as the murderer of Rovere?" asked M. Ginory after
a moment's reflection.

"No one," said Dantin. "I have tried to think of some one."

"