He remained in his study with a superb obstinacy, writing new memoranda in favour of the encaged innocent.

In the mean time among the few readers that he found, some, about a dozen, were struck by his reasons and began to doubt Pyrot's guilt.

They broached the subject to their friends and endeavoured to spread the light that had arisen in their minds.

One of them was a friend of Robin Mielleux and confided to him his perplexities, with the result that he was no longer received by that Minister.

Another demanded explanations in an open letter to the Minister of War.