“But why all these preliminaries? What do you want of me?”
“Your assistance to get at the truth.”
The detective evidently expected something of the kind. After a minute’s reflection, he looked fixedly at M. Folgat, and said,—
“If I understand you correctly, you would like to begin a counter-investigation for the benefit of the defence?”
“Exactly.”
“And unknown to the prosecution?”
“Precisely.”
“Well, I cannot possibly serve you.”
The young advocate knew too well how such things work not to be prepared for a certain amount of resistance; and he had thought of means to overcome it.
“That is not your final decision, my dear Goudar?” he said.