"It is explicable enough on a certain hypothesis—which I do not wish to press. But I should be greatly obliged if M. de la Rocheterie would give us the reason for another delay of his which also needs explanation. I only trust they are not susceptible of the same."
Aymar's head went up. "To what delay are you referring, Monsieur?"
"To the very considerable one which you have shown in courting this enquiry. You were released on the 16th of June. Even if your health was not then sufficiently re-established for you to go to the General-in-Chief in person, why did you not at least communicate with him if, as you assure us, you were so anxious to clear yourself? You made no move whatever for a month, until the middle of July. Is that not true?"
"Yes, it is quite true," said Aymar steadily. He drew a long breath, and Laurent saw his fingers tighten on the paper he was holding.
"I suggest that the month's inaction, then, needs some justification," observed "Fouquier-Tinville" suavely.
In the silence that followed Laurent said to himself, "He was ill, unfit for it, you bully!" But would Aymar say that, since it was not the real reason? No, of course he would not! He replied at last, very coldly and quietly, looking down a little, "The reason for the delay was a purely private one."
"A reason that you would prefer not to give the Court?" suggested "Fouquier-Tinville" with a twist of the lips.
"A reason," retorted Aymar, not without a measure of defiance, "that I am not called upon to give the Court!"
At last something had been found which L'Oiseleur would not answer.
"It had nothing in common, then," demanded the inquisitor meaningly, "with your reason for remaining so long near the enemy in the Bois des Fauvettes?"