M. de Sairmeuse turned to his colleague.
“You hear that!” said he. “This d’Escorval calls the restitution of a deposit a great misfortune! Go on, witness.”
“In the second place,” resumed Chupin, “the accused was always prowling about Lacheneur’s house.”
“That is false,” interrupted the baron. “I never visited the house but once, and on that occasion I implored him to renounce.”
He paused, comprehending only when it was too late, the terrible significance of his words. But having begun, he would not retract, and he added:
“I implored him to renounce this project of an insurrection.”
“Ah! then you knew his wicked intentions?”
“I suspected them.”
“Not to reveal a conspiracy makes one an accomplice, and means the guillotine.”
Baron d’Escorval had just signed his death-warrant.