"What do you mean, dearest father? How an end to this? What would you imply?" exclaimed Florestan, still more alarmed at the fearful expression and the increased pallor of his father's countenance.
Suddenly there was a violent blow struck on the cabinet door. Florestan made a motion to go and open it, in order to put an end to a scene which terrified him; but the comte seized him with a hand of iron, and held him fast.
"Who knocks?" inquired the comte.
"In the name of the law, open! Open!" said a voice.
"That forgery, then, was not the last," exclaimed the comte, in a low voice, and looking at his son with a terrible air.
"Yes, my father, I swear it!" exclaimed Florestan, endeavouring, but vainly, to extricate himself from the vigorous grasp of his father.
"In the name of the law, open!" repeated the voice.
"What is it you seek?" demanded the comte.
"I am a commissary of police, and I have come to make a search after a robbery of diamonds, of which M. de Saint-Remy is accused. M. Baudoin, a jeweller, has proofs. If you do not open, sir, I shall be compelled to force open the door."
"Already a thief! I was not then deceived," said the comte, in a low voice. "I came to kill you,—I have delayed too long."