nd asked me to wait
for her. I waited more than an hour, and then discovered that this
house, like many others in Lyons, had an exit in another street; and I
understood that Madame de Lamotte had escaped by this passage, and that I
might wait in vain. Concluding that trying to follow her would be
useless, and seeing also that any remonstrance would be made in vain, I
returned to Paris, deciding to say nothing as yet, and to conceal the
truth as long as possible. I still had hopes, and I did not count on
being so soon called on to defend myself: I thought that when I had to
speak, it would be as a friend, and not as an accused person. This, sir,
is the explanation of my conduct, and I regret that this justification,
so easy for myself, should be so cruelly painful for another. You have
seen the efforts which I made to defer it."

Monsieur de Lamotte had heard this second part of Derues' recital with a
more silent indignation, not that he admitted its probability, but he was
confounded by this monstrous imposture, and, as it were, terror-stricken
by such profound hypocrisy. His mind revolted at the idea of his wife
being accused of adultery; but while he repelled this charge with
decision, he saw the confirmation of his secret terrors and
presentiments, and his heart sank within him at the prospect of exploring
this abyss of iniquity. He was pale, gasping for breath, as though he
himself had been the criminal, while scorching tears furrowed his cheeks.
He tried to speak, but his voice failed; he wanted to fling back at
Derues the names of traitor and assassin, and he was obliged to bear in
silence the look of mingled grief and pity which the latter bestowed upon
him.

The magistrate, calmer, and master of his emotions, but tolerably
bewildered in this labyrinth of cleverly connected lies, thought it
desirable to ask some further questions.

"How," said he, "did you obtain this sum of a hundred thousand livres
which you say you paid over to Madame de Lamotte?"

"I have been engaged in business for several years, and have acquired
some fortune."

"Nevertheless, you have postponed the obligation of making this payment
several times, so that Monsieur de Lamotte had begun to feel uneasiness
on the subject. This was the chief reason of his wife's coming to
Paris."

"One sometimes experiences momentary difficulties, which presently
disappear."

"You say you have a deed given you at Lyons by Madame de Lamotte, whi