"Rubbish!" flung back the prisoner. "This examination is of no importance, anyhow."
"Of course not, of course not," purred the magistrate. Then, abruptly, his whole manner changed.
"Groener," he said, and his voice rang sternly, "I've been patient with you so far, I've tolerated your outrageous arrogance and impertinence, partly to entrap you, as I have, and partly because I always give suspected persons a certain amount of latitude at first. Now, my friend, you've had your little fling and—it's my turn. We are coming to a part of this examination that you will not find quite so amusing. In fact you will realize before you have been twenty-four hours at the Santé that——"
"I'm not going to the Santé," interrupted Groener insolently.
Hauteville motioned to the guard. "Put the handcuffs on him."
The guard stepped forward and obeyed, handling the man none too tenderly. Whereupon the accused once more lost his fine self-control and was swept with furious anger.
"Mark my words, Judge Hauteville," he threatened fiercely, "you have ordered handcuffs put on a prisoner for the last time."
"What do you mean by that?" demanded the magistrate.
