Not being aware of the powerful means of investigation possessed by the law, he wondered how in so short a time the judge could have obtained such accurate information.
“Your statement is correct, monsieur,” he said finally.
“Where did all this money come from? The evening before you had so little that you were obliged to defer the payment of a small bill.”
“The day to which you allude, I sold through an agent some bonds I had, about three thousand francs; besides, I took from the safe two thousand francs in advance on my salary.”
The prisoner had given clear answers to all the questions put to him, and M. Patrigent thought he would attack him on a new point.
“You say you have no wish to conceal any of your actions; then why did you write this note to one of your companions?” Here he held up the mysterious note.
This time the blow struck. Prosper’s eyes dropped before the inquiring look of the judge.
“I thought,” he stammered, “I wished—”
“You wished to screen this woman?”
“Yes, monsieur; I did. I knew that a man in my condition, accused of a robbery, has every fault, every weakness he has ever indulged in, charged against him as a great crime.”