He replied that he felt sure of the constancy of his betrothed, Mademoiselle d'Arlange." This name fell like a thunderbolt upon the ears of the investigating magistrate.

He jumped in his chair.

Feeling that his face was turning crimson, he took up a large bundle of papers from his table, and, to hide his emotion, he raised them to his face, as though trying to decipher an illegible word.

He began to understand the difficult duty with which he was charged.

He knew that he was troubled like a child, having neither his usual calmness nor foresight.