"What's that you say?" cried the chief detective, furiously.
"I say that I can't."
"But you have no right to be silent. The law requires you to speak."
"To-morrow. . . . I will speak to-morrow . . . I must have time to reflect. . . . To-morrow, I will tell you all that I know about Pierre Leduc . . . all that I suppose about that cigarette-case. . . . To-morrow, I promise you. . . ."
It was obvious that he possessed that sort of obstinacy against which the most energetic efforts are of no avail. M. Lenormand yielded:
"Very well. I give you until to-morrow, but I warn you that, if you do not speak to-morrow, I shall be obliged to go to the examining-magistrate."
He rang and, taking Inspector Dieuzy aside, said:
"Go with him to his hotel . . . and stay there. . . . I'll send you two men. . . . And mind you keep your eyes about you. Somebody may try to get hold of him."
The inspector went off with Steinweg; and M. Lenormand, returning to Mrs. Kesselbach, who had been violently affected by this scene, made his excuses.
"Pray accept all my regrets, madame. . . . I can understand how upset you must feel. . . ."