nes have been caused by your miserable accomplice, the
Chouette. I wished to draw you here by the temptation of a robbery,
because this was the only temptation that could avail with you. Once in
my power, I leave you the choice of being handed over to the hands of
justice, which will make you pay with your head the assassination of the
cattle-dealer--"

"It is false! I did not commit that crime."

"Or of being conducted out of France, under my direction, to a place of
perpetual confinement, where your lot will be less painful than at the
Bagne; but I will only allow you this relaxation of punishment on
condition that you give me the information which I desire to acquire.
Condemned for life, you have broken away from your confinement, and by
seizing upon you and placing you hereafter beyond the possibility of
doing injury, I serve society; and from your confession I may, perhaps,
find the means of restoring to her family a poor creature much more
unfortunate than guilty. This was my first intention,--it was not legal;
but your escape and your fresh crimes forbid any such course on my part
now, and place you beyond all law. Yesterday, by a remarkable
revelation, I discovered that you are Anselm Duresnel--"

"It's false! I am not called Duresnel."

Rodolph took from the table the chain of the Chouette, and pointing to
the little Saint Esprit of lapis lazuli said, in a threatening voice:

"Sacrilege! You have prostituted to an infamous wretch this holy
relic,--thrice holy, for your infant boy had this pious gift from his
mother and grandmother!"

The Schoolmaster, dumfounded at this discovery, lowered his head and
made no response.

"You carried off your child from his mother fifteen years ago, and you
alone possess the secret of his existence. I had in this an additional
motive for laying hands on you when I had detected who you were. I seek
no revenge for what you have done to me personally, but to-night you
have again shed blood without provocation. The man you have assassinated
came to you in full confidence, not suspecting your sanguinary purpose.
He asked you what you wanted: 'Your money or your life!' and you stabbed
him with your poniard."

"So M. Murphy said when I first came to his aid," said the doctor.

"It's false! He lied!"

"Murphy never lies," said Rodolph, calmly. "Your crimes demand a
striking reparation. You came into this garden forcibly; you stabbed a
man that you might rob him; you have com