“I understand. I shall be delighted to hear what you have to say. I thank and congratulate you. Farewell!” I was on the brink of the precipice, but I was determined to leave the kingdom rather than betray the honour of my poor dear sweetheart. If it had been possible, I would gladly have put an end to the case with money; but it was too late. I was sure that Farsetti had the chief hand in all this trouble, that he was continually on my track, and that he paid the spies mentioned by M. de Sartine. He it was who had set Vauversin, the barrister, after me, and I had no doubt that he would do all in his power to ruin me. I felt that my only course was to tell the whole story to M. de Sartine, but to do that I required Madame du Rumain’s permission. CHAPTER IX My Examination--I Give the Clerk Three Hundred Louis--The Midwife and Cartel-Bajac Imprisoned--Mdlle. X. C. V. Is Brought to Bed of a Son and Obliges Her Mother to Make Me Amends--The Suit Against Me Is Quashed--Mdlle. X. C. V. Goes With Her Mother to Brussels and From Thence to Venice, Where She Becomes a Great Lady--My Work-girls--Madame Baret--I Am Robbed, Put in Prison, and Set at Liberty Again--I Go to Holland--Helvetius’ “Esprit”--Piccolomini The day after my interview with M. de Sartine I waited on Madame du Rumain at an early hour. Considering the urgency of the case I took the liberty of rousing her from her slumbers, and as soon as she was ready to receive me I told her all. “There can be no hesitation in the matter,” said this delightful woman. “We must make a confidant of M. de Sartine, and I will speak to him myself to-day without fail.” Forthwith she went to her desk and wrote to the criminal lieutenant asking him to see her at three o’clock in the afternoon. In less than an hour the servant returned with a note in which he said he would expect her. We agreed that I should come again in the evening, when she would tell me the result of her interview. I went to the house at five o’clock, and had only a few minutes to wait. “I have concealed nothing,” said she; “he knows that she is on the eve of her confinement, and that you are not the father, which speaks highly for your generosity. I told him that as soon as the confinement was over, and the young lady had recovered her health, she would return to her mother, though she would make no confession, and that the child should be well looked after. You have now nothing to fear, and can calm yourself; but as the case must go on you will be cited before the court the day after to-morrow. I advise you to see the clerk of the court on some pretext or other, and to make him accept a sum of money.”