the King."

"You see, gentlemen!" said La Mole.

"Silence!" said the president; then turning to the clerk: "Against the
life of the King," he continued. "Have you that?"

"Why, no, no!" cried Coconnas. "Besides, the figure is not that of a
man, but of a woman."

"What did I tell you, gentlemen?" said La Mole.

"Monsieur de la Mole," said the president, "answer when you are
questioned, but do not interrupt the examination of others."

"So you say that it is a woman?"

"Certainly I say so."

"In that case, why did it have a crown and a cloak?"

"By Heaven!" said Coconnas, "that is simple enough, because it was"--

La Mole rose and put his finger on his lips.

"That is so," said Coconnas, "what was I going to say that could
possibly concern these gentlemen?"

"You persist in stating that the figure is that of a woman?"

"Yes; certainly I persist."

"And you refuse to say what woman?"

"A woman of my country," said La Mole, "whom I loved and by whom I
wished to be loved in return."

"We are not asking you, Monsieur de la Mole," said the president; "keep
silent, therefore, or you shall be gagged."

"Gagged!" exclaimed Coconnas; "what do you mean, monsieur of the black
robe? My friend gagged? A gentleman! the idea!"

"Bring in Rene," said the Attorney-General Laguesle.

"Yes; bring in Rene," said Coconnas; "we shall see who is right here, we
two or you three."

Rene entered, pale, aged, and almost unrecognizable to the two friends,
bowed under the weight of the crime he was about to commit much more
than because of those he had already committed.

"Maitre Rene," said the judge, "do you recognize the two accused persons
here present?"

"Yes, monsieur," replied Rene, in a voice which betrayed his emotion.

"From having seen them where?"

"In several places; and especially at my house."

"How many times did they go to your house?"

"Once only."

As Rene spoke the face of Coconnas expanded; La Mole's, on the contrary,
looked as though he had a presentiment of evil.

"For what purpose were they at your house?"

Rene seemed to hesitate a moment.

"To order me to make a waxen figure," said he.

"Pardon me, Maitre Rene," said Coconnas, "you are making a slight
mistake."

"Silence!" said the president; then turning to Rene, "was this figure to
be that of a man or a woman?"

"A man," replied Rene.

Coconnas sprang up as if he had received an electric shock.

"A man!" he exclaimed.

"A m