"It is very serious, monsieur," replied the man, respectful enough now; "a young woman has been blinded with vitriol."
"Horrible!" exclaimed Mlle. Fouchette. "I don't believe Lerouge could have ever done that! No, never!"
"Nor I," said Jean.
The police officer merely raised his eyebrows slightly and observed,—
"It was in the Rue Dareau, monsieur."
"And the woman? Do they know——"
"One named Madeleine, mademoiselle."
"Madeleine!" cried the girl, with a white face. "Madeleine! Mon Dieu! You hear that, Monsieur Jean? It was Madeleine!"
"Courage, mademoiselle; Lerouge never did that," said Jean, calmly. "It is a mistake. He could not do that."
"Never! It is impossible!"