Gonzague tried to speak, and failed; tried to speak again, and succeeded: "Your highness, I again declare that I gave the true Gabrielle de Nevers to her mother. I have the page torn from the register of the chapel of Caylus in this sealed packet." As he spoke he held out a small sealed packet, which he had drawn from his breast.
The king turned to Lagardere. "What do you say to this?"
Lagardere answered: "That I have kept my word. I have given back her daughter to the princess. I will now unmask the murderer."
Again the king questioned him: "Where are your witnesses?"
Lagardere turned and pointed with his drawn sword to Gonzague: "You are the first."
Gonzague, trying hard to recover his composure, raged at him: "Madman!"
Lagardere turned to the king and spoke more solemnly: "The second is in the grave."
Gonzague laughed. "The dead cannot speak."
Lagardere still looked menacingly at Gonzague. "To-night the dead will speak. The proofs of your guilt are in that sealed packet, stolen from me by assassins in your pay."
Gonzague turned to the king, protesting: "Sire!"