"Thank you, madam. I hope you will learn a lesson from this experience. You may go."
Staggering, gasping for breath, clinging weakly to the guard's arm, the lady left the room.
"Now, sir, what have you to say?" demanded the judge, facing the prisoner.
"Nothing."
"You admit that the lady told the truth?"
"Ha, ha!" the other laughed harshly. "A lady would naturally tell the truth in such a predicament, wouldn't she?"
At this the judge leaned over to Coquenil and, after some low words, he spoke to the clerk who bowed and went out.
"You denied a moment ago," resumed the questioner, "that your name is Groener. Also that you were disguised this afternoon as a wood carver. Do you deny that you have a room, rented by the year, in the house where Madam Cecile has her apartment? Ah, that went home!" he exclaimed. "You thought we would overlook the little fifth-floor room, eh?"
"I know nothing about such a room," declared the other.
"I suppose you didn't go there to change your clothes before you called at Madam Cecile's?"