Pray have these facts verified; and do not even arrest me, for I give you my word of honor that I will stay quietly in this office till you are convinced of my innocence." These sensible words, said without the least hesitation, and with the ease of a man who is perfectly sure of his facts, made some impression on the magistrates.
"Yes, we must find all these persons and summon them," said Monsieur Mouilleron; "but it is more than the affair of a day.

Make up your mind, therefore, in your own interests, to be imprisoned in the Palais." "Provided I can write to my mother, so as to reassure her, poor woman--oh! you can read the letter," he added.
This request was too just not to be granted, and Joseph wrote the following letter:-- "Do not be uneasy, dear mother; the mistake of which I am a victim can easily be rectified; I have already given them the means of doing so.

To-morrow, or perhaps this evening, I shall be at liberty.

I kiss you, and beg you to say to Monsieur and Madame Hochon how grieved I am at this affair; in which, however, I have had no hand,--it is the result of some chance which, as yet, I do not understand." When the note reached Madame Bridau, she was suffering from a nervous attack, and the potions which Monsieur Goddet was trying to make her swallow were powerless to soothe her.

The reading of the letter acted like balm; after a few quiverings, Agathe subsided into the depression which always follows such attacks.