"I am persuaded," Dantin continued, "that this miserable mistake cannot last long, and you will recognize the truth. I shall go out, at least from here, without having abused a confidence which one has placed in me and which I intend to preserve." "Yes," said M. Ginory, "perfectly, I know your system. You will hold to it. It is well. Now, whose portrait is that?" "It is mine!" "By whom do you think it was possible that it could have been sold in the bric-a-brac shop where it was found." "I know nothing about it. Probably by the one who found it or stole it from M. Rovère's apartment, and who is probably, without the least doubt, his assassin." "That seems very simple to you?" "It seems very logical." "Suppose that this should be the exact truth, that does not detract from the presumption which implicates you, and from Mme. Moniche's deposition, which charges you"---- "Yes, yes, I know. The open safe, the papers spread out, the tête-à-tête with Rovère, when the concierge entered the room--that signifies nothing!" "For you, perhaps! For Justice it has a tragic signification. But let us return to the portrait. It was you, I suppose, who gave it to Rovère?" "Yes, it was I," Dantin responded. "Rovère was an amateur in art, moreover, my intimate friend. I had no family, I had an old friend, a companion of my youth, whom I thought would highly prize that painting. It is a fine one--it is by Paul Baudry." "Ah!" said M. Ginory. "P. B. Those are Baudry's initials?" "Certainly. After the war--when I had done my duty like others, I say this without any intention of defending myself--Paul Baudry was at Bordeaux. He was painting some portraits on panels, after Holbein--Edmond About's among others. He made mine. It is this one which I gave Rovère--the one you hold in your hands." The Magistrate looked at the small oval painting and M. Leriche put on his eyeglasses to examine the quality of the painting. A Baudry! "What are these scratches around the edge as if nails had been drawn across the places?" M. Ginory asked. He held out the portrait to Dantin. "I do not know. Probably where the frame was taken off." "No, no! They are rough marks; I can see that. The picture has been literally torn from the frame. You ought to know how this panel was framed." "Very simply when I gave it to Rovère. A narrow gilt frame, nothing more." "Had Rovère changed the frame?" "I do not know. I do not remember. When I was at his apartment the last few times I do not remember to have seen the Baudry. I have thought of it, but I have no recollection of it." "Then you cannot furnish any information about the man who sold this portrait?" "None whatever!" "We might bring you face to face with that woman." "So be it! She certainly would not recognize me." "In any case, she will tell us about the man who brought the portrait to her."