“Do you know the plan of the defence?”
This was evidently the place where the shoe pinched; but M. Galpin took care not to let it be seen, and replied,—
“I do not. But that does not matter. M. de Boiscoran’s friends at first thought of making capital out of Cocoleu; but they have given that up. I am sure of that! The police-agent whom I have charged to keep his eyes on the idiot tells me that Dr. Seignebos does not trouble himself about the man any more.”
M. Daubigeon smiled sarcastically, and said, much more for the purpose of teasing his visitor than because he believed it himself,—
“Take care! do not trust appearances. You have to do with very clever people. I always told you Cocoleu is probably the mainspring of the whole case. The very fact that M. Gransiere will speak ought to make you tremble. If he should not succeed, he would, of course, blame you, and never forgive you in all his life. Now, you know he may fail. ‘There is many a slip between the cup and the lip.’
“And I am disposed to think with Villon,—
‘Nothing is so certain as uncertain things.’”
M. Galpin could tell very well that he should gain nothing by prolonging the discussion, and so he said,—
“Happen what may, I shall always know that my conscience supports me.”
Then he made great haste to take leave, lest an answer should come from M. Daubigeon. He went out; and as he descended the stairs, he said to himself,—