Then when he had finished his
explanations he added, in a still more commanding voice, "Now
look; you can read the culprits' guilt on their faces. One is the
scoundrel known to you as the Viscount de Coralth, but Paul
Violaine is his true name. He was formerly an accomplice of the
notorious Mascarot; he is a cowardly villain, for he is married,
and leaves his wife and children to die of starvation!" The
Viscount de Coralth fairly bellowed with rage. But Pascal did not
heed him. "The other criminal is the Marquis de Valorsay," he
added, in the same ringing tone. There was, moreover, a third
culprit who would have inspired mingled pity and disgust if any
one had noticed him shrinking into a corner, terrified and
muttering: "It wasn't my fault, my wife compelled me to do it!"
This was General de Fondege.
Pascal did not mention his name. But it was not absolutely
necessary he should do so, and besides, he remembered Marguerite's
entreaty respecting the son.
However, while the young lawyer was speaking, the marquis had
summoned all his energy and assurance to his aid. Desperate as
his plight might be, he would not surrender. "This is an infamous
conspiracy," he exclaimed. "Baron, you shall atone for this. The
man's an impostor!--he lies!--all that he says is false!"
"Yes, it is false!" echoed M. de Coralth.
But a clamor arose, drowning these protestations, and the most
opprobrious epithets could be heard on every side.
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