“Hang the old original!” cried M. de Chandore before the doctor had left the passage.
Then turning to M. Folgat, he added,—
“I must, however, confess that you received the great news which he brought rather coldly.”
“The very fact of the news being so very grave,” replied the advocate, “made me wish for time to consider. If Cocoleu pretends to be imbecile, or, at least, exaggerates his incapacity, then we have a confirmation of what M. de Boiscoran last night told Miss Dionysia. It would be the proof of an odious trap of a long-premeditated vengeance. Here is the turning-point of the affair evidently.”
M. de Chandore was bitterly undeceived.
“What!” he said, “you think so, and you refuse to support Dr. Seignebos, who is certainly an honest man?”
The young lawyer shook his head.
“I wanted to have twenty-four hours’ delay, because we must absolutely consult M. de Boiscoran. Could I tell the doctor so? Had I a right to take him into Miss Dionysia’s secret?”
“You are right,” murmured M. de Chandore, “you are right.”
But, in order to write to M. de Boiscoran, Dionysia’s assistance was necessary; and she did not reappear till the afternoon, looking very pale, but evidently armed with new courage.