Folgat, "provided
always a certain house in Vine Street should not prove too small for
your ambition."
The pale face of the detective recovered its color for a moment.
"Will they really give it to me?" he asked.
"Since you have discovered the real criminal, and handed him over to
justice."
"Well, then, I will bless these wounds: I feel that I shall be up
again in a fortnight. Give me quick pen and ink, that I may write my
resignation immediately, and tell my wife the good news."
He was interrupted by the entrance of one of the officers of the
court, who, walking up to the commonwealth attorney, said to him
respectfully,--
"Sir, the priest from Brechy is waiting for you at your office."
"I am coming directly," replied M. Daubigeon.
And, turning to his companions, he said,--
"Let us go, gentlemen."
The priest was waiting, and rose quickly from his chair when he saw M.
Daubigeon enter, accompanied by M. Galpin, M. Folgat, and Dr. Seignebos.
"Perhaps you wish to speak to me alone, sir?" asked M. Daubigeon.
"No, sir," replied the old priest, "no! The words of reparation which
have been intrusted to me must be uttered publicly." And handing him a
letter, he added,--
"Read this. Please read it aloud."
The commonwealth attorney tore the envelope with a tremulous hand, an
then read,--
"Being about to die as a Christian, as I have lived as a Christian, I
owe it to myself, I owe it to God whom I have offended, and I owe it to
those men whom I have deceived, to declare the truth.
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