"And in all that time nobody protested?"
"Yes, a good many, but they were not so strong as the other party."
"And did not M. de la Rocheterie himself protest?"
"Once; but when Le Bihan gave him the opportunity of justifying himself he refused to say a word—as I should have done in his place."
"Then they never got the explanation, such as it was?"
"Yes; I gave it them myself in the hope of saving him."
"Without the 'bargain'?"
"Naturally, since I did not know what it was."
"And the 'explanation' was still, presumably, unconvincing to you when you gave it?"
"I was beginning to waver."