saying, after twice clearing her throat--

'I cannot comprehend, Monsieur Ruthyn, unless you intend to insult me.'

'It won't do, Madame; I must have that false key. I give you the
opportunity of surrendering it quietly here and now.'

'But who dares to say I possess such thing?' demanded Madame, who, having
rallied from her momentary paralysis, was now fierce and voluble as I had
often seen her before.

'You know, Madame, that you can rely on what I say, and I tell you that you
were seen last night visiting this room, and with a key in your possession,
opening this desk, and reading my letters and papers contained in it.
Unless you forthwith give me that key, and any other false keys in your
possession--in which case I shall rest content with dismissing you
summarily--I will take a different course. You know I am a magistrate;--and
I shall have you, your boxes, and places up-stairs, searched forthwith,
and I will prosecute you criminally. The thing is clear; you aggravate by
denying; you must give me that key, if you please, instantly, otherwise I
ring this bell, and you shall see that I mean what I say.'

There was a little pause. He rose and extended his hand towards the
bell-rope. Madame glided round the table, extended her hand to arrest his.

'I will do everything, Monsieur Ruthyn--whatever you wish.'

And with these words Madame de la Rougierre broke down altogether. She
sobbed, she wept, she gabbled piteously, all manner of incomprehensible
roulades of lamentation and entreaty; coyly, penitently, in a most