But I thought you would be
waiting for me, and made haste to bring her here. I thought I was acting
for the best--"
"Never mind, the misfortune can be repaired."
"No, sir, no. Since she has seen her husband, it is quite impossible
to get her to speak. She loves that rascal intensely, and he has a
wonderful influence over her. You heard what he said. He threatened
her with death if she breathed a word about Lacheneur, and she is so
terrified that there is no hope of making her speak."
Lecoq's apprehension was based on fact, as M, Segmuller himself
perceived the instant Toinon the Virtuous again set foot in his office.
The poor creature seemed nearly heartbroken, and it was evident she
would have given her life to retract the words that had escaped her when
first questioned by Lecoq. Polyte's threat had aroused the most sinister
apprehensions in her mind. Not understanding his connection with
the affair, she asked herself if her testimony might not prove his
death-warrant. Accordingly, she answered all M. Segmuller's questions
with "no" or "I don't know"; and retracted everything she had previously
stated to Lecoq. She swore that she had been misunderstood, that her
words had been misconstrued; and vowed on her mother's memory, that she
had never heard the name of Lacheneur before. At last, she burst into
wild, despairing sobs, and pressed her frightened child against her
breast.
What could be done to overcome this foolish obstinacy, as blind and
unreasoning as a brute's? M.
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