"Anselm Duresnel, you have escaped from the Bagne at Rochefort, where you were condemned for life for forgery, robbery, and murder!" "It's false!" said the Schoolmaster, in a hollow voice, and looking about him with his restless and glaring glance. "You are Anselm Duresnel, and you murdered and robbed a cattle-dealer on the road to Poissy--" "It's a lie!" "You shall confess it presently." The scoundrel looked at Rodolph with an air of astonishment. "This very night you came here to rob, and you have stabbed the master of this house--" "It was you who suggested this robbery!" assuming an air of assurance. "I was attacked, and I defended myself." "The man you stabbed did not attack you,--he was unarmed. True, I did suggest this robbery to you,--I'll tell you why. Last night only, after having robbed a man and woman in the Cité, you offered to kill me for a thousand francs--" "I heard him," said the Chourineur. The Schoolmaster darted at him a glance of deadliest hate. Rodolph continued: "You see there was no occasion to tempt you to do mischief." "You are not my judge, and I will not answer you another question." [Illustration: "_Rodolph Addressed the Schoolmaster_" Etching by Mercier, after the drawing by Frank T. Merrill] "I'll tell you why I proposed this robbery to you. I knew you were a runaway convict,--you know the parents of the unfortunate girl, all whose misfortunes have been caused by your miserable accomplice, the Chouette. I wished to draw you here by the temptation of a robbery, because this was the only temptation that could avail with you. Once in my power, I leave you the choice of being handed over to the hands of justice, which will make you pay with your head the assassination of the cattle-dealer--" "It is false! I did not commit that crime." "Or of being conducted out of France, under my direction, to a place of perpetual confinement, where your lot will be less painful than at the Bagne; but I will only allow you this relaxation of punishment on condition that you give me the information which I desire to acquire. Condemned for life, you have broken away from your confinement, and by seizing upon you and placing you hereafter beyond the possibility of doing injury, I serve society; and from your confession I may, perhaps, find the means of restoring to her family a poor creature much more unfortunate than guilty. This was my first intention,--it was not legal; but your escape and your fresh crimes forbid any such course on my part now, and place you beyond all law. Yesterday, by a remarkable revelation, I discovered that you are Anselm Duresnel--" "It's false! I am not called Duresnel." Rodolph took from the table the chain of the Chouette, and pointing to the little Saint Esprit of lapis lazuli said, in a threatening voice: "Sacrilege! You have prostituted to an infamous wretch this holy relic,--thrice holy, for your infant boy had this pious gift from his mother and grandmother!"