From that moment Richon maintained a disdainful silence, and refused to reply to any and all questions. This course simplified the proceedings greatly, and the trial lasted little more than an hour. They wrote little and spoke still less. The judge-advocate closed by demanding the imposition of the death penalty, and at a sign from the Duc d'Épernon the judges unanimously voted for death. Richon listened to the sentence as if he were a simple spectator, and, as impassive and dumb as ever, was turned over on the spot to the provost of the army. The Duc d'Épernon betook himself to the apartments of the queen, whom he found in a charming humor, and who invited him to dinner. The duke, who believed himself to be in disgrace, accepted, and returned to Nanon to inform her of his good fortune in retaining his standing in the good graces of his sovereign. He found her stretched out upon a reclining chair by a window which looked upon the public square of Libourne. "Well," said she, "have you discovered anything?" "I have discovered everything, my dear." "Nonsense!" said Nanon, not without some in-quietude. _"Mon Dieu!_ I mean what I say. You remember that accusation I was idiot enough to believe,--the accusation that you were carrying on an intrigue with your brother?" "Well?" "You remember the blank signature that I was required to give the informer?" "Yes, what then?" "The informer is in our hands, my dear, taken in the meshes of his blank signature, like a fox in the trap." "Can it be?" said Nanon, in dismay; for she knew that Cauvignac was the man, and although she had no very deep affection for her real brother, she did not wish that any ill should befall him; moreover, that same brother might, to extricate himself, tell a multitude of things which Nanon preferred to have remain secret. "Himself, my dear," continued D'Épernon; "what do you say to that? The rascal, with the assistance of my signature, appointed himself governor of Vayres on his own authority; but Vayres is taken and the culprit is in our hands." All these details were so like Cauvignac's ingenious combinations that Nanon's alarm redoubled. "What have you done with this man?" she asked in a voice that betrayed her emotion. "Why," said the duke, "in a moment you can see for yourself what we have done with him. Yes, 'faith," he added, rising, "it couldn't be better; raise the curtain, or rather throw the window open; he's an enemy of the king, and you can see him hanged." "Hanged!" cried Nanon. "What do you say, Monsieur le Duc? the man of the blank signature is to be hanged?" "Yes, my love. Look yonder; do you not see the rope dangling from the beam, and the crowd flocking to the square? And see, there are the fusileers coming with the man himself, over at the left. Look! there is the king at his window." Nanon's heart was in her mouth; one rapid glance, however, was enough to show her that the man in custody was not Cauvignac.