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〃But the supposition appears to contain a hint injurious to Madame de Lamotte's reputation？〃
〃No； oh no！〃 replied Derues； after a moment's silence。
This sort of insinuation appeared strange to the magistrate； who resolved to try and force Derues to abandon these treacherous reticences behind which he sheltered himself。 Again recommending silence to Monsieur de Lamotte； he continued to question Derues； not perceiving that he was only following the lead skilfully given by the latter； who drew him gradually on by withdrawing himself； and that all the time thus gained was an advantage to the accused。
〃Well；〃 said the magistrate； 〃whatever Madame de Lamotte's motives may have been； it ended in her coming to stay with you。 How did you persuade her to take this step？〃
〃My wife accompanied her first to the Hotel de France； and then to other hotels。 I said no more than might be deemed allowable in a friend； I could not presume to persuade her against her will。 When I returned home； I was surprised to find her there with her son。 She could not find a disengaged room in any of the hotels she tried； and she then accepted my offer。〃
〃What date was this？〃
〃Monday； the 16th of last December。〃
〃And when did she leave your house？〃
〃On the 1st of February。〃
〃The porter cannot remember having seen her go out on that day。〃
〃That is possible。 Madame de Lamotte went and came as her affairs required。 She was known； and no more attention would be paid to her than to any other inmate。〃
〃The porter also says that for several days before this date she was ill； and obliged to keep her room？〃
〃Yes； it was a slight indisposition； which had no results； so slight that it seemed unnecessary to call in a doctor。 Madame de Lamotte appeared preoccupied and anxious。 I think her mental attitude influenced her health。〃
〃Did you escort her to Versailles？〃
〃No； I went there to see her later。〃
〃What proof can you give of her having actually stayed there？〃
〃None whatever； unless it be a letter which I received from her。〃
〃You told Monsieur de； Lamotte that she was exerting herself to procure her son's admission either as a king's page or into the riding school。 Now； no one at Versailles has seen this lady； or even heard of her。〃
〃I only repeated what she told me。〃
〃Where was she staying？〃
〃I do not know。〃
〃What！ she wrote to you； you went to see her； and yet you do not know where she was lodging？〃
〃That is so。〃
〃But it is impossible。〃
〃There are many things which would appear impossible if I were to relate them； but which are true； nevertheless。〃
〃Explain yourself。〃
〃I only received one letter from Madame de Lamotte； in which she spoke of her plans for Edouard； requesting me to send her her son on a day she fixed； and I told Edouard of her projects。 Not being able to go to the school to see him； I wrote； asking if he would like to give up his studies and become a royal page。 When I was last at Buisson…Souef； I showed his answer to Monsieur de Lamotte； it is here。〃
And he handed over a letter to the magistrate； who read it； and passing it on to Monsieur de Lamotte； inquired
〃Did you then； and do you now； recognise your son's handwriting？〃
〃Perfectly； monsieur。〃
〃You took Edouard to Versailles？〃
〃I did。〃
〃On what day？〃
〃February 11th； Shrove Tuesday。 It is the only time I have been to Versailles。 The contrary might be supposed； for I have allowed it to be understood that I have often seen Madame de Lamotte since she left my house； and was acquainted with all her actions； and that the former confidence and friendship still existed between us。 In allowing this； I have acted a lie； and transgressed the habitual sincerity of my whole life。〃
This assertion produced a bad impression on the magistrate。 Derues perceived it； and to avert evil consequences； hastened to add
〃My conduct can only be appreciated when it is known in entirety。 I misunderstood the meaning of Madame de Lamotte's letter。 She asked me to send her her son； I thought to oblige her by accompanying him； and not leaving him to go alone。 So we travelled together； and arrived at Versailles about midday。 As I got down from the coach I saw Madame de Lamotte at the palace gate； and observed； to my astonishment； that my presence displeased her。 She was not alone。〃
He stopped； although he had evidently reached the most interesting point of his story。
〃Go on；〃 said the magistrate； 〃why do you stop now？〃
〃Because what I have to say is so painfulnot to me； who have to justify myself； but for others； that I hesitate。〃
〃Go on。〃
〃Will you then interrogate me； please？〃
〃Well； what happened in this interview？〃
Derues appeared to collect himself for a moment； and then said with the air of a man who has decide on speaking out at last
〃Madame de Lamotte was not alone； she was attended by a gentleman whom I did not know； whom I never saw either at Buisson…Souef or in Paris； and whom I have never seen again since。 I will ask you to allow me to recount everything； even to the smallest details。 This man's face struck me at once； on account of a singular resemblance； he paid no attention to me at first； and I was able to examine him at leisure。 His manners were those of a man belonging to the highest classes of society； and his dress indicated wealth。 On seeing Edouard； he said to Madame de Lamotte
〃'So this is he？' and he then kissed him tenderly。 This and the marks of undisguised pleasure which he evinced surprised me； and I looked at Madame de Lamotte； who then remarked with some asperity
〃'I did not expect to see you； Monsieur Derues。 I had not asked you to accompany my son。'
〃Edouard seemed quite as much surprised as I was。 The stranger gave me a look of haughty annoyance； but seeing I did not avoid his glance his countenance assumed a more gentle expression； and Madame de Lamotte introduced him as a person who took great interest in Edouard。〃
〃It is a whole tissue of imposture！〃 exclaimed Monsieur de Lamotte。
〃Allow me to finish；〃 answered Derues。 〃I understand your doubts； and that you are not anxious to believe what I say； but I have been brought here by legal summons to tell the truth； and I am going to tell it。 You can then weigh the two accusations in the balance； and choose between them。 The reputation of an honourable man is as sacred； as important； as worthy of credit as the reputation of a woman； and I never heard that the virtue of the one was more fragile than that of the other。〃
Monsieur de Lamotte； thunderstruck by such a revelation； could not contain his impatience and indignation。
〃This； then；〃 he said； 〃is the explanation of an anonymous letter which I received； and of the injurious suggestions' concerning my wife's honour which it contained； it was written to give an appearance of probability to this infamous legend。 The whole thing is a disgraceful plot； and no doubt Monsieur Derues wrote the letter himself。〃
〃I know nothing about it；〃 said Derues unconcernedly； 〃and the explanation which you profess to find in it I should rather refer to something else I am going to mention。 I did not know a secret warning had been sent to you： I now learn it from you； and I understand perfectly that such a letter； may have been written。 But that you have received such a warning ought surely to be a reason for listening patiently and not denouncing all I say as imposture。〃
While saying this Derues mentally constructed the fresh falsehood necessitated by the interruption； but no variation of countenance betrayed his thought。 He had an air of dignity natural to his position。 He saw that； in spite of clear…headedness and long practice in studying the most deceptive countenances； the magistrate so far had not scented any of his falsehoods； and was getting bewildered in the windings of this long narrative； through which Derues led him as he chose； and he resumed with confidence
〃You know that I made Monsieur de Lamotte's acquaintance more than a year ago； and I had reason to believe his friendship as sincere as my own。 As a friend； I could not calmly accept the suspicion which then entered my mind； nor could I conceal my surprise。 Madame de Lamotte saw this； and understood from my looks that I was not satisfied with the explanation she wished me to accept。 A glance of intelligence passed between her and her friend； who was still holding Edouard's hand。 The day； though cold； was fine； and she proposed a walk in the park。 I offered her my arm； and the stranger walked in front with Edouard。 We had a short conversation； which has remained indelibly fixed in my memory。
〃'Why did you come？' she inquired。
〃I did not answer； but looked sternly at her； in order to discompose her。 At length I said
〃'You should have written； madame； and warned me that my coming would be indiscreet。'
〃She seemed much disconcerted； and exclaimed
〃'I am lost！ I see you guess everything； and will tell my husband。 I am an unhappy woman； and a sin once committed can never be erased from the pages of a woman's life！ Listen； Monsieur Derues； listen； I implore you！ You see this man； I shall not tell you who he is； I shall not give his name 。 。 。 but I loved