"You know no one whom this crime benefits, or whom it might benefit,--absolutely no one ?" "I know only one thing, sir," replied Noel; "and that is, that, as far as I am concerned, it has caused me an irreparable injury." "At last," thought M.Daburon, "we have got at the letters; and I have not betrayed poor old Tabaret.

It would be too bad to cause the least trouble to that zealous and invaluable man." He then added aloud: "An injury to you, my dear sir?
You will, I hope, explain yourself." Noel's embarrassment, of which he had already given some signs, appeared much more marked.
"I am aware, sir," he replied, "that I owe justice not merely the truth, but the whole truth; but there are circumstances involved so delicate that the conscience of a man of honour sees danger in them.

Besides, it is very hard to be obliged to unveil such sad secrets, the revelation of which may sometimes--" M.Daburon interrupted with a gesture.

Noel's sad tone impressed him.
Knowing, beforehand, what he was about to hear, he felt for the young advocate.

He turned to his clerk.
"Constant!" said he in a peculiar tone.