es and remissions of future sins。 Some muttered words； a stifled cough； the light whispered prayers of the sisters； recalled to Jansoulet the distant and confused sensation of the hours of waiting in the corner of his village church round the confessional on the eves of the great festivals of the Church。
At last his turn came； and if a doubt as to M。 Le Merquier had remained； he doubted no longer when he saw this great office； simple and severe； yet a little more ornate than the waiting…room； a fitting frame for the austerity of the lawyer's principles； and for his thin form； tall； stooping； narrow…shouldered； squeezed into a black coat too short in the sleeves； from which protruded two black fists； broad and flat； two sticks of Indian ink with hieroglyphs of great veins。 The clerical deputy had； with the leaden hue of a Lyonnese grown mouldy between his two rivers； a certain life of expression which he owed to his double looksometimes sparkling； but impenetrable behind the glass of his spectacles； more often； vivid； mistrustful； and dark； above these same glasses； surrounded by the shadow which a lifted eye and a stooping head gives the eyebrow。
After a greeting almost cordial in comparison with the cold bow which the two colleagues exchanged at the Chamber； a n〃I was expecting you〃 in which perhaps an intention showed itself； the lawyer pointed the Nabob into a seat near his desk； told the smug domestic in black not to come till he was summoned； arranged a few papers； after which； sinking into his arm…chair with the attitude of a man ready to listen； who becomes all ears； his legs crossed； he rested his chin on his hand； with his eyes fixed on a great rep curtain falling to the ground in front of him。
The moment was decisive； the situation embarrassing。 Jansoulet did not hesitate。 It was one of the poor Nabob's pretensions to know men as well as Mora。 And this instinct； which； said he； had never deceived him； warned him that he was at that moment dealing with a rigid and unshakable honesty； a conscience in hard stone； untouchable by pick… axe or powder。 〃My conscience！〃 Suddenly he changed his programme； threw to the winds the tricks and equivocations which embarrassed his open and courageous disposition； and； head high and heart open； held to this honest man a language he was born to understand。
〃Do not be astonished； my dear colleague；〃his voice trembled； but soon became firm in the conviction of his defence〃do not be astonished if I am come to find you here instead of asking simply to be heard by the third committee。 The explanation which I have to make to you is so delicate and confidential that it would have been impossible to make it publicly before my colleagues。〃
Maitre Le Merquier； above his spectacles； looked at the curtain with a disturbed air。 Evidently the conversation was taking an unexpected turn。
〃I do not enter on the main question；〃 said the Nabob。 〃Your report； I am assured； is impartial and loyal； such as your conscience has dictated to you。 Only there are some heart…breaking calumnies spread about me to which I have not answered； and which have perhaps influenced the opinion of the committee。 It is on this subject that I wish to speak to you。 I know the confidence with which you are honoured by your colleagues； M。 Le Merquier； and that； when I shall have convinced you； your word will be enough without forcing me to lay bare my distress to them all。 You know the accusationthe most terrible； the most ignoble。 There are so many people who might be deceived by it。 My enemies have given names； dates； addresses。 Well； I bring you the proofs of my innocence。 I lay them bare before youyou onlyfor I have grave reasons for keeping the whole affair secret。〃
Then he showed the lawyer a certificate from the Consulate of Tunis； that during twenty years he had only left the principality twicethe first time to see his dying father at Bourg…Saint Andeol； the second； to make； with the Bey； a visit of three days to his chateau of Saint… Romans。
〃How comes it； then； that with a document so conclusive in my hands I have not brought my accusers before the courts to contradict and confound them？ Alas； monsieur； there are cruel responsibilities in families。 I have a brother； a poor fellow； weak and spoiled； who has for long wallowed in the mud of Paris； who has left there his intelligence and his honour。 Has he descended to that degree of baseness which I； in his name； am accused of？ I have not dared to find out。 All I can say is； that my poor father； who knew more than any one in the family of it； whispered to me in dying； 'Bernard； it is your elder brother who has killed me。 I die of shame； my child。' 〃
He paused； compelled by his suppressed emotion； then：
〃My father is dead； Maitre Le Merquier； but my mother still lives； and it is for her sake； for her peace； that I have held back； that I hold back still； before the scandal of my justification。 Up to now； in fact； the mud thrown at me has not touched her； it only comes from a certain class； in a special press； a thousand leagues away from the poor woman。 But law courts； a trialit would be proclaiming our misfortune from one end of France to the other； the articles of the official paper reproduced by all the journals； even those of the little district where my mother lives。 The calumny； my defence； her two children covered with shame by the one stroke； the namethe only pride of the old peasantforever disgraced。 It would be too much for her。 It would be enough to kill her。 And truly； I find it enough； too。 That is why I have had the courage to be silent； to weary； if I could； my enemies by silence。 But I need some one to answer for me in the Chamber。 It must not have the right to expel me for reasons which would dishonour me； and since it has chosen you as the chairman of the committee； I am come to tell you everything； as to a confessor； to a priest； begging you not to divulge anything of this conversation； even in the interests of my case。 I only ask you； my dear colleague； absolute silence； for the rest； I rely on your justice and your loyalty。〃
He rose； ready to go； and Le Merquier did not move； still asking the green curtain in front of him； as if seeking inspiration for his answer there。 At last he said：
〃It shall be as you desire； my dear colleague。 This confidence shall remain between us。 You have told me nothing； I have heard nothing。〃
The Nabob； still heated with his burst of confidence； which demanded； it seemed to him； a cordial response； a pressure of the hand； was seized with a strange uneasiness。 This coolness； this absent look； so unnerved him that he was at the door with the awkward bow of one who feels himself importunate； when the other stopped him。
〃Wait； then； my dear colleague。 What a hurry you are in to leave me！ A few moments； I beg of you。 I am too happy to have a chat with a man like you。 Besides； we have more than one common bond。 Our friend Hemerlingue has told me that you； too； are much interested in pictures。〃
Jansoulet trembled。 The two words〃Hemerlingue；〃 〃pictures〃meeting in the same phrase so unexpectedly； restored all his doubts； all his perplexities。 He did not give himself away yet； however； and let Le Merquier advance； word by word； testing the ground for his stumbling advances。 People had told him often of the collection of his honourable colleague。 〃Would it be indiscreet to ask the favour of being admitted； to〃
〃On the contrary； I should feel much honoured；〃 said the Nabob； tickled in the most sensiblesince the most costlypoint of his vanity； and looking round him at the walls of the room； he added with the tone of a connoisseur； 〃You have some fine things； too。〃
〃Oh；〃 said the other modestly； 〃just a few canvases。 Painting is so dear now； it is a taste so difficult to satisfy； a true passion /de luxe/a passion for a Nabob；〃 said he； smiling； with a furtive look over his glasses。
They were two prudent players； face to face； but Jansoulet was a little astray in this new situation； where he who only knew how to be bold； had to be on his guard。
〃When I think；〃 murmured the lawyer； 〃that I have been ten years covering these walls； and that I have still this panel to fill。〃
In fact； at the most conspicuous place on the wall there was an empty place； emptied rather； for a great gold…headed nail near the ceiling showed the visible； almost clumsy； trace of a snare laid for the poor simpleton； who let himself be taken in it so foolishly。
〃My dear M。 Le Merquier；〃 said he with his engaging； good…natured voice； 〃I have a Virgin of Tintoretto's just the size of your panel。〃
Impossible to read anything in the eyes of the lawyer； this time hidden under their overhanging brows。
〃Permit me to hang it there； opposite your table。 That will help you to think sometimes of me。〃
〃And to soften the severities of my report； too； sir？〃 cried Le Merquier； formidable and upright； his hand on the bell。 〃I have seen many shameless things in my life； but never anything like this。 Such offers to me； in my own house！〃
〃But； my dear colleague； I swear to you〃
〃Show him out；〃 said the lawyer to the hang…dog servant who had just entered； and from the middle of his office； whose door remained open； before all the waiting…room； where the paternosters were silent； he pursued Jansouletwho slunk off murmuring excuses to the doorwith these terrible words：
〃You have outraged the honour of the Chamber in my person； sir。 Our colleagues shall be informed of it this very day； and； this crime coming after your others； you will learn to your cost that Paris is not the East； and that here we do not make shameless traffic of the human conscience。〃
Then； after having chased the seller from the temple； the just man closed his door； and approaching the mysterious green curtain； said in a tone that sounded soft amidst his pretended anger：
〃Is that what you wanted； Baroness Marie？〃
THE SITTING
That morning there were no guests to lunch at 32 Place Vendome； so that towards one o'clock might have been seen the majestic form of M。 Barreau； gleaming white at the gate； among four or five of his scullions in their cook's caps； and as many stable…boys in Scotch caps an imposing group； which gave to the house the aspec