All the skill in the world could not repair such an unfortunate mistake.

A witness on his guard is no longer a witness to be depended upon; he trembles for fear of compromising himself, measures the weight of the questions, and hesitates as to his answers.
On the other hand, justice, in the form of a magistrate, is disposed to doubt everything, to imagine everything, and to suspect everybody.
How far was the count a stranger to the crime at La Jonchere?
Although doubting Albert's paternity, he would certainly have made great efforts to save him.

His story showed that he thought his honour in peril just as much as his son.

Was he not the man to suppress, by every means, an inconvenient witness?
Thus reasoned M.Daburon.And yet he could not clearly see how the Count de Commarin's interests were concerned in the matter.

This uncertainty made him very uneasy.
"Sir," he asked, more sternly, "when were you informed of the discovery of your secret ?" "Last evening, by Albert himself.