“We will hear that from them by-and-by. You were naturally anxious to keep on good terms with Monsieur de Cadanet, and that you did so has been amply proved. The only other person in whom he seems to have shown an interest was Monsieur de Beaudrillart!”
“I do not know that he took much interest.”
“You said he asked many questions on the subject. That looks like it.”
“I cannot say. It may have been so.”
“It looks like it,” repeated Maître Barraud, equably. “The situation, then, appears to have been that you and the accused both played, and that Monsieur de Cadanet was displeased with him only. Was it owing to the fact that he lost and you won?”
Up to this point the questions had dropped out in an almost sleepily courteous tone. The last had the effect of a sharp, sudden, and unexpected thrust. M. Bourget muttered, “That drew blood.” Nathalie listened, breathless. Lemaire answered, sulkily, “I do not know,” and Maître Barraud, after a momentary pause by which he succeeded in emphasising his inquiry, dropped the subject.
Lemaire held himself very determinedly on guard after this episode, which he was conscious had told against him, and little was elicited. The counsel passed on to the account of what took place at the time of the count’s death. He made particular inquiries as to who was in the house, and then put another question through the judge.
“You were married, I think, at the time of the alleged theft?”
“I was.”
“But your wife was not much at the house?”