“It is false, is it not, aunt? speak!”
“Alas! alas!” groaned Mme. Fauvel. “What have I done?”
“You have allowed Prosper to be accused,” cried Madeleine; “you have suffered him to be arrested, and disgraced for life.”
“Forgive me,” sighed Mme. Fauvel. “He was about to kill himself; I was so frightened! Then you know—Prosper was to share the money: he gave Raoul the secret word—”
“Good Heavens! Aunt, how could you believe such a falsehood as that?”
Clameran interrupted them.
“Unfortunately, what your aunt says of M. Bertomy is the truth,” he said in a sad tone.
“Your proofs, monsieur; where are your proofs?”
“Raoul’s confession.”
“Raoul is false.”