Monsieur de Braguelonne saw at once with what manner of man he had to do.
"To confess is not sufficient," he said harshly; "there must be reparation as well."
"Oh, there shall be, Monseigneur, if I can accomplish it!" returned Des Avenelles.
"Very well; but in order to accomplish it," continued the lieutenant, "you must have it in your power to be of some service to us, or to give us some valuable information."
"I will try to do so," said the advocate, almost choked with terror.
"It will be very difficult," retorted De Braguelonne, carelessly, "for we already know all there is to know."
"What! you know—"
"Everything, I tell you; and in this pass to which you have brought yourself your tardy repentance will hardly avail to save your head, I promise you."
"My head! Oh, Heaven! My head in danger? Yet I have come—"
"Too late," said the inflexible De Braguelonne. "You cannot now be of any use to us, and we know in advance everything that you can tell us."