Alas! I am indeed unfortunate." "You unfortunate ?" cried old Tabaret, singularly affected by his dear Noel's sadness.

"In heaven's name, what has happened to you ?" "I suffer," murmured the advocate, "and very cruelly.

Not only do I fear that the injustice is irreparable; but here am I totally without defence delivered over to the shafts of calumny.

I may be accused of inventing falsehood, of being an ambitious intriguer, having no regard for truth, no scruples of conscience." Old Tabaret was puzzled.

What connection could possibly exist between Noel's honour and the assassination at La Jonchere?
His brain was in a whirl.