It was one of those crimes which society might, if not forget, at least forgive up to a certain point, because the motive was not a shameful one.

What tribunal would fail to find extenuating circumstances for a moment of frenzy so excusable.
Besides was not the Count de Commarin the more guilty of the two?
Was it not his folly that prepared the way for this terrible event?
His son was the victim of fatality, and was in the highest degree to be pitied.
M.Daburon spoke for a long time upon this text, seeking those things most suitable in his opinion to soften the hardened heart of an assassin.

And he arrived always at the same conclusion,--the wisdom of confessing.

But he wasted his eloquence precisely as M.Tabaret had wasted his.

Albert appeared in no way affected.