"It was he who struck the blow; I saw him with my own eyes, as I told
you years ago. Then he escaped by the window into a back-street; I
followed him, but he was too quick for me. A cab waited for him,
picked him up, and he was driven away."
While Hyde was speaking the judge had turned over the pages of a
voluminous document in front of him,--a detailed report of the
previous interrogation.
"Your story does not vary. You have either an excellent memory,
or--" and the stern magistrate smiled quite archly--"or you are
really telling me the truth."
"The truth! I can swear to it."
"What is more, your story is in the main corroborated. Shortly after
your escape we laid hands on the very cabman who had helped Ledantec
away. He described the scene as you have, and through him we got upon
the trace of his fare--Ledantec, as you call him."
"But you never arrested him?"
"Until now he carefully kept away from Paris."
"But you have him now on a double charge."
"Him and his accomplice. Justice will be satisfied, never fear."
"How long will you keep me here?"
"I regret that for the present it will be impossible to release you.
We are compelled first to verify the facts before us. But in a few
days at the latest I hope your trouble will be at an end. You have
powerful friends, Monsieur.
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