Coquenil eyed him steadily. "I see, they have taken me off this case."
The judge nodded gravely. "Worse than that, they have taken you off the force. Your commission is canceled."
"But—but why?" stammered the other.
"For influencing Dedet to break a rule about a prisoner au secret; as a matter of fact, you were foolish to write that letter."
"I thought the girl might get important evidence from her lover."
"No doubt, but you ought to have asked me for an order. I would have given it to you, and then there would have been no trouble."
"It was late and the matter was urgent. After all you approve of what I did?"
"Yes, but not of the way you did it. Technically you were at fault, and—I'm afraid you will have to suffer."
M. Paul thought a moment.
"Did you make the complaint against me?"