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 de Scuderi, "bring the man to this room as soon as possible; for however horrible he appears in your estimation, his visit causes to me no anxiety whatever." Baptiste went accordingly, and soon returned, followed by this unwelcome guest.

"The President," said Desgrais, speaking all the way as he came into the room, as if to save time,—"the President la Regnie has sent me to your ladyship, with a request to which he could scarcely hope that you would agree, were it not that he is so well aware of your extraordinary courage, and your zeal for justice; moreover, were it not that the last and only means to unravel the mystery attending the assassination of Cardillac seem to rest in your hands. Besides, he informed me that you have already taken a lively interest in that criminal process, by which the whole attention of the Chambre Ardente is now occupied. Olivier Brusson, since the time when, as I am informed, he was permitted to see your ladyship at the Concergerie, has been half distracted. Before that interview, he seemed at times disposed to make a confession; but now again he swears by heaven and all the saints, that, as to the murder of Cardillac, he is perfectly innocent, though, for his other crimes, he indeed deserves punishment. You will observe, Mademoiselle, that this last clause points at some concealed guilt, of which the very existence was not yet suspected, and which may prove far more important than Cardillac's assassination; but our endeavors have been completely baffled as to extorting from him even a single word more. Even the threat of putting him on the rack seems not to have had any influence. Meanwhile he beset us with the most earnest prayers and supplications that we should grant him another meeting with you; for it is to the lady de Scuderi alone that he is willing to make a full confession. Our humble request is, that you will have the condescension and goodness to hear in private the deposition of Olivier Brusson."

"How is this?" cried de Scuderi, quite angrily; "am I then to serve as an agent of your criminal court? Am I to