"'I had it all along.'
"'You did not take the gold piece belonging to your mother?'
"'No.'
"'Will you swear it on your eternal life?'
"He was about to swear; his mother raised her eyes to him, and said:—
"'Jacques, my child, take care; do not swear if it is not true; you can repent, you can amend; there is still time.'
"And she wept.
"'You are a this and a that,' he said; 'you have always wanted to ruin me.'
"Cambremer turned white and said,—
"'Such language to your mother increases your crime. Come, to the point! Will you swear?'