With a cordial handshake, Monsieur Fuselier began by congratulating him on having saved Elizabeth Dollon's life.
"Ah," said he, smiling, "you journalists have all the luck; and, between yourselves, I envy you a little, for your lucky star has led you to the discovery of a drama, and has enabled you to prevent a fatal ending to it. Now, do you not think, as I do, that this Auteuil affair is not a case of suicide, but of attempted assassination?"
"There is no doubt about it," replied Fandor quietly.
The magistrate drew himself up with a satisfied air.
"That is also my opinion—has been so from the start."
The clerk now interrupted the two men, who were talking as friends rather than as magistrate and witness, asking, in nasal tone:
"Does His Honour wish to take the evidence of Monsieur Jérôme Fandor?"
"In four lines then. I do not think Monsieur Fandor has anything more to tell us than what he has already told us in the columns of La Capitale. That is so, is it not?" asked the magistrate, looking at Fandor.
"That is correct," replied our journalist.
The clerk rapidly drew up the deposition of Monsieur Jérôme Fandor, in due form, and read it aloud in a monotonous voice.