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shall not give his name 。 。 。 but I loved him long ago； I should have been his wife； and had he not been compelled to leave France； I should have married no one else。'〃
Monsieur de Lamotte started； and grew pale。
〃What is the matter？〃 the magistrate inquired。
〃Oh！ this dastardly wretch is profiting by his knowledge of secrets which a long intimacy has enabled him to discover。 Do not believe him； I entreat you； do not believe him！〃
Derues resumed。 〃Madame de Lamotte continued ： 'I saw him again sixteen years ago； always in hiding； always proscribed。 To…day he reappears under a name which is not his own： he wishes to link my fate with his； he has insisted on seeing Edouard。 But I shall escape him。 I have invented this fiction of placing my son among the； royal pages to account for my stay here。 Do not contradict me； but help me； for a little time ago I met one of Monsieur de Lamotte's friends； I am afraid he suspected something。 Say you have seen me several times； as you have come； let it be known that you brought Edouard here。 I shall return to Buisson as soon as possible； but will you go first； see my husband； satisfy him if he is anxious？ I am in your hands； my honour； my reputation； my very life； are at your mercy； you can either ruin or help to save me。 I may be guilty； but I am not corrupt。 I have wept for my sin day after day； and I have already cruelly expiated it。'〃
This execrable calumny was not related without frequent interruptions on the part of Monsieur de Lamotte。 He was； however； obliged to own to himself that it was quite true that Marie Perier had really been promised to a man whom an unlucky affair had driven into exile； and whom he had supposed to be dead。 This revelation； coming from Derues； who had the strongest interest in lying； by no means convinced him of his wife's dishonour； nor destroyed the feelings of a husband and father； but Derues was not speaking for him lone； and what appeared incredible to Monsieur de Lamotte might easily seem less improbable to the colder and less interested judgment of the magistrate。
〃I was wrong；〃 Derues continued； 〃in allowing myself to be touched by her tears； wrong in believing in her repentance； more wrong still in going to Buisson to satisfy her husband。 But I only consented on conditions： Madame de Lamotte promised me to return shortly to Paris； vowing that her son should never know the truth； and that the rest of her life should be devoted to atoning for her sin by a boundless devotion。 She then begged me to leave her； and told me she would write to me at Paris to fix the day of her return。 This is what happened； and this is why I went to Buissan and gave my support to a lying fiction。 With one word I might have destroyed the happiness of seventeen years。 I did not wish to do so。 I believed in the remorse； I believe in it still； in spite of all appearances； I have refused to speak this very day； and made every effort to prolong an illusion which I know it will be terrible to lose。〃
There was a moment of silence。 This fable； so atrociously ingenious； was simply and impressively narrated； and with an air of candour well contrived to impose on the magistrate； or； at least； to suggest grave doubts to his mind。 Derues； with his usual cunning； had conformed his language to the quality of his listener。 Any tricks； profession of piety； quotations from sacred books； so largely indulged in when he wished to bamboozle people of a lower class； would here have told against him。 He knew when to abstain； and carried the art of deception far enough to be able to lay aside the appearance of hypocrisy。 He had described all the circumstances without affectation； and if this unexpected accusation was wholly unproved； it yet rested on a possible fact； and did not appear absolutely incredible。 The magistrate went through it all again； and made him repeat every detail； without being able to make him contradict himself or show the smallest embarrassment。 While interrogating Derues； he kept his eyes fixed upon him； and this double examination being quite fruitless； only increased his perplexity。 However； he never relaxed the incredulous severity of his demeanour； nor the imperative and threatening tone of his voice。
〃You acknowledge having been at Lyons？〃 he asked。
〃I have been there。〃
〃At the beginning of this examination you said you would explain the reason of this journey later。〃
〃I am ready to do so； for the journey is connected with the facts I have just narrated； it was caused by them。〃
〃Explain it。〃
〃I again ask permission to relate fully。 I did not hear from Versailles： I began to fear Monsieur de Lamotte's anxiety would bring him to Paris。 Bound by the promise I had made to his wife to avert all suspicion and to satisfy any doubts he might conceive； and； must I add； also remembering that it was important for me to inform him of our new arrangements； and of this payment of a hundred thousand livres。〃
〃That payment is assuredly fictitious；〃 interrupted Monsieur de Lamotte； 〃we must have some proof of it。〃
〃I will prove it presently；〃 answered Derues。 〃So I went to Buisson； as I have already told you。 On my return I found a letter from Madame de Lamotte； a letter with a Paris stamp； which had arrived that morning。 I was surprised that she should write； when actually in Paris； I opened the letter； and was still more surprised。 I have not the letter with me； but I recollect the sense of it perfectly； if not the wording； and I can produce it if necessary。 Madame de Lamotte was at Lyons with her son and this person whose name I do not know； and whom I do not care to mention before her husband。 She had confided this letter to a person who was coming to Paris； and who was to bring it me； but this individual； whose name was Marquis； regretted that having to start again immediately； he was obliged to entrust it to the post。 This is the sense of its contents。 Madame de Lamotte wrote that she found herself obliged to follow this nameless person to Lyons； and she begged me to send her news of her husband and of the state of his affairs； but said not one single word of any probable return。 I became very uneasy at the news of this clandestine departure。 I had no security except a private contract annulling our first agreement on the payment of one hundred thousand livres； and that this was not a sufficient and regular receipt I knew； because the lawyer had already refused to surrender Monsieur de Lamotte's power of attorney。 I thought over all the difficulties which this flight； which would have to be kept secret； was likely to produce； and I started for Lyons without writing or giving any notice of my intention。 I had no information； I did not even know whether Madame de Lamotte was passing by another name； as at Versailles； but chance decreed that I met her the very day of my arrival。 She was alone； and complained bitterly of her fate； saying she had been compelled to follow this individual to Lyons； but that very soon she would be free and would return to Paris。 But I was struck by the uncertainty of her manner； and said I should not leave her without obtaining a deed in proof of our recent arrangements。 She refused at first； saying it was unnecessary； as she would so soon return； but I insisted strongly。 I told her I had already com promised myself by telling Monsieur de Lamotte that she was at Versailles； endeavouring to procure an appointment for her son； that since she had been compelled to come to Lyons； the same person might take her elsewhere； so that she might disappear any day； might leave France without leaving any trace； without any written acknowledgment of her own dishonour； and that when all these falsehoods were discovered； I should appear in the light of an accomplice。 I said also that； as she had unfortunately lodged in my house in Paris； and had requested me to remove her son from his school； explanations would be required from me； and perhaps I should be accused of this double disappearance。 Finally； I declared that if she did not give me some proofs of her existence； willingly or unwillingly； I would go at once to a magistrate。 My firmness made her reflect。 'My good Monsieur Derues；' she said； 'I ask your forgiveness for all the trouble I have caused you。 I will give you this deed to…morrow； to…day it is too late； but come to this same place to…morrow； and you shall see me again。' I hesitated； I confess； to let her go。 'Ah；' she said； grasping my hands； 'do not suspect me of intending to deceive you！ I swear that I will meet you here at four o'clock。 It is enough that I have ruined myself； and perhaps my son； without also entangling you in my unhappy fate。 Yes； you are right； this deed is important； necessary for you； and you shall have it。 But do not show yourself here； if you were seen； I might not be able to do what I ought to do。 To…morrow you shall see me again； I swear it。' She then left me。 The next day； the 12th； of March； I was exact at the rendezvous； and Madame de Lamotte arrived a moment later。 She gave me a deed； authorising her husband to receive the arrears of thirty thousand livres remaining from the purchase…money of Buisson…Souef。 I endeavoured again to express