I have seen your employer and know all about it. I have also seen the magistrate, and he gave me permission to visit you. I have seen your rooms and their luxury, and I can understand the reason of your crime; you are the first thief in the family.’

M. Bertomy, seeing his son was no longer listening to him, stopped.

‘But,’ he continued, ‘I am not come to reproach you. Listen to me. How much have you left of the 350,000 francs you have stolen?’

‘Once more, father, I am innocent.’

‘I expected that reply. Now it rests with your relatives to repair your fault. The day I learned of your crime, your brother-in-law brought me your sister’s dowry, 70,000 francs. I have 140,000 francs besides, making 210,000 francs in all. This I am going to hand to M. Fauvel.’

This statement roused Prosper.

‘Don’t do that!’ he cried.

‘I shall do so before night. M. Fauvel will give me time in which to pay the balance. My pension is 1,500 francs and I can live on 500. I am still strong enough to obtain employment.’

M. Bertomy said no more, stopped by his son’s expression of anger.

‘You have no right, father,’ he cried, ‘to do this. You can refuse to believe me if you like; but an action like that would ruin me. I am upon the edge of a precipice and you want to push me over. While justice hesitates, father, you condemn me without a hearing.’

Prosper’s tones at last made an impression upon his father, who murmured:

‘But the evidence against you is very strong.’

‘That does not matter,’ Prosper replied; ‘I will prove myself innocent or perish in the attempt, whether I am convicted or not. The author of my misfortune is in the house of M. Fauvel and I will find him. Why did Madeleine tell me one day to think no more of her? Why did she exile me, when she loves me as much as I do her?’

The hour granted for the interview had expired. M. Bertomy left his son almost convinced of his innocence. Father and son embraced with tears in their eyes.

The door of Prosper’s cell reopened almost immediately after his father’s departure and the warder entered to conduct him to his examination. This time he went with his head high and a firm step.

As he passed through the room where the detectives and police were, the man with the gold spectacles said:

‘Be brave, M. Bertomy, if you are innocent we will help you.’

Prosper, in surprise, asked the warder who the gentleman was.

The warder replied:

‘Surely you know the great Lecoq! If your case had been in his hands instead of Fanferlot’s it would have been settled long ago. But he seems to know you.’

‘I never saw him till I saw him here.’

‘Don’t be too sure of that, for he is a master of disguises.’

This time Prosper did not have to wait upon the wooden bench. M. Patrigent had arranged for his examination to immediately follow his interview with his father, with the object of getting the truth from him while his nerves were still vibrating with emotion.

The magistrate was, therefore, very surprised at the cashier’s proud and resolute attitude.

The first question was:

‘Have you reflected?’

‘Being innocent,’ Prosper replied, ‘I have nothing on which to reflect.’

‘Ah,’ the magistrate said, ‘you forget that sincerity and repentance are necessary to obtain lenient treatment.’

‘I have need, sir, neither of pardon or leniency.’

‘How would you answer,’ the magistrate resumed, ‘if I told you what had become of the money?’

Prosper shook his head sadly.