He was silent for a time while he fiddled with the papers on his desk, and then he recommenced his questions.
"You pretend also that you have been robbed of all the money you possessed while you were asleep, and you add that that sleep was not natural, but was caused by being drugged? Is that the case?"
"That is what I have told, sir, and it is the very truth," answered Nadine firmly, for she had now recovered herself.
"A pretty story, truly," retorted the magistrate, harshly, "and one that speaks volumes for your imagination. But there is another part of your story which is even more preposterous. You assert that a kind-hearted lady gave you two hundred francs about a month ago?"
"I swear to you that this is true!" exclaimed Nadine. "When Madame Pradère gave me the envelope I did not know what was in it, because she impressed upon me that I must not open it until I was in very great trouble. So I kept it carefully, and did not open it, as we were doing very well with our performances, and had no trouble until this came to us. Then I thought of what she had told me, and opened the envelope when the gendarmes were present."
"Young girl," said the magistrate solemnly, "in your interest I enjoin you to make a full confession of the real truth without any longer attempting to mislead the law. Take my word for it, you must not try to speak falsely as to things which sooner or later must be found out, if you would hope for the consideration of the authorities before whom you are brought. So now, my child, think well, and be perfectly frank with me. This is no doubt only a temporary giving away to wrong. You were strongly tempted, and you succumbed to the temptation by taking money which was not your own. Tell me all, my child. Where did you get that money?"
CHAPTER XV.
NALLA OBTAINS ASSISTANCE.
Poor unhappy Nadine could stand it no longer! The persistent incredulity of the magistrate cut her to the heart. It was bad enough to have lost her darling sister, and all her money, but in addition to that to be treated like a criminal instead of finding sympathy and assistance, truly it was more than flesh and blood could bear. She sank fainting to the floor in front of the judge's desk.