"'You have ordered handcuffs put on a prisoner for the last time.'"
But almost instantly Groener had become calm again. "I beg your pardon," he said, "I'm a little on my nerves. I'll behave myself now, I'm ready for those things you spoke of that are not so amusing."
"That's better," approved Hauteville, but Coquenil, watching the prisoner, shook his head doubtfully. There was something in this man's mind that they did not understand.
"Groener," demanded the magistrate impressively, "do you still deny any connection with this crime or any knowledge concerning it?"
"I do," answered the accused.
"As I said before, I think you are lying, I believe you killed Martinez, but it's possible I am mistaken. I was mistaken in my first impression about Kittredge—the evidence seemed strong against him, and I should certainly have committed him for trial had it not been for the remarkable work on the case done by M. Coquenil."
"I realize that," replied Groener with a swift and evil glance at the detective, "but even M. Coquenil might make a mistake."
Back of the quiet-spoken words M. Paul felt a controlled rage and a violence of hatred that made him mutter to himself: "It's just as well this fellow is where he can't do any more harm!"
"I warned you," pursued the judge, "that we are coming to an unpleasant part of this examination. It is unpleasant because it forces a guilty person to betray himself and reveal more or less of the truth that he tries to hide."
The prisoner looked up incredulously. "You say it forces him to betray himself?"