And M. Wilkie copied and signed this document, and
carried it to the prosecution office himself."
Mademoiselle Marguerite sank half-fainting into an arm-chair.
"You have done this!" she faltered.
"It was necessary, my daughter," whispered Madame Ferailleur.
"Yes, it was necessary, absolutely necessary," repeated Pascal,
"as you will see. Justice, which is a human institution, and
limited in its powers, cannot fathom motives, read thoughts, or
interfere with plans, however abominable they may be, or however
near realization. Before it can interfere, the law must have
material, tangible proof, convincing to the senses. Until you are
arrested, the crimes committed by M. de Valorsay, and those
associated with him, do not come within the reach of human
justice; but as soon as you are in prison, I can hasten to our
friend the justice of the peace, and we shall go at once to the
investigating magistrate and explain everything. Now, when your
innocence and the guilt of your accusers have been established,
what do you fancy the authorities will do? They will wait until
your enemies declare themselves, in order to capture them all at
once, and prevent the escape of a single one. To-morrow night
some clever detectives will watch the Hotel de Chalusse, and just
as Madame Leon and the wretch with her think themselves sure of
success, they will be caught in the very act and arrested.
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