"And will it add to the happiness of man? and will it diminish grief, wickedness and crime?"
The Magistrate spoke as if to himself, thoughtfully, sadly. Something Bernardet said brought a smile to his lips.
"This is, Monsieur le Juge, a fine ending of the chapter for the second part of your work, 'The Duty of a Magistrate Toward Scientific Discoveries.' And if the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences does not add"——
M. Ginory suddenly turned red and interrupted Bernardet with a word and a gesture.
"Monsieur Bernardet!"
"I can only repeat, Monsieur, what public opinion thinks and says," said Bernardet, bowing low. "There was an illusion to this affair written up. An amiable fellow—that Paul Rodier."
"Ah! Monsieur Bernardet, Monsieur Bernardet!" laughingly said the Magistrate, "you have a weakness for reporters. Do you want me to tell you something? You will finish by becoming a journalist."
"And you will certainly finish in the habit of a member of the Academy, Monsieur Ginory," said the little Bernardet, with his air of a mocking abbé.