"What! what do you mean? Can it be that you have already had the audacity to spread this hateful falsehood?"
"I have told no falsehood, madame! But when that man, when Comte Léodgard—who recognized me perfectly—had disappeared—and I did not think to look after him, I was so overwhelmed—some soldiers arrived, looking for the robber, whom they believed to be Giovanni; but I undeceived them; I told them who the man was whom they were pursuing and whom they had wounded."
"You accused Léodgard?"
"Once more, madame; I told the truth."
"You are mad, Miretta; for if you reflect an instant, you will understand that you must be mistaken. To make such charges against a man whom I love—— Oh! it is abominable! I ought to drive you from my presence!"
"The soldiers said as you do, madame, that I was mad; but what does it matter to me now what anyone thinks of my words? I know, myself, that I spoke the truth! You bid me reflect, madame! Ah! if I could still doubt what I saw last night, by recalling my memories of the past I should find additional proofs of what I assert.—In heaven's name, madame, allow me to speak; you will still have the right to dismiss me afterward.—I do not know whether you remember a murder that was committed about three years and a half ago—a handsome young man was found in the Fossés-Jaunes, near the Pont-aux-Choux;—the story was told us by that little solicitor's clerk, Bahuchet."
"Yes, I remember very well."
"From that time, madame, I ceased to see Giovanni; it was he, I cannot doubt, who was murdered, and robbed of his weapons and of the costume he wore at night.—Oh! I remember so well now—the description of that young man corresponded exactly with that of Giovanni."
"Assume that it be true—what connection has Léodgard——"
"I beg pardon, madame, but in the servants' quarters the servants of your visitors talk with your own people; and as madame deigned sometimes to talk to me of Comte Léodgard, I paid more attention when others spoke of him; and about that time I often heard it said: 'Oh! Comte Léodgard is an excellent master now! it is not as it used to be when he had not the means to pay his esquire; he must have discovered a gold mine lately, for he has paid all his debts, he has hired a beautiful house in Rue de Bretonvilliers, and he gives superb parties there; in short, it seems that he flings money about with both hands, and he's an excellent master!'—That is what I heard said more than once, madame, about the time when I ceased to see my poor Giovanni!"