"Ah," cried he, in an altered voice, "you don't believe what you say!
Laurence never knew about it, never!"
The doctor, who was narrowly watching the detective, thought he saw a
faint smile light up his mobile features. The old justice of the peace
went on, now calmly and with dignity, in a somewhat haughty tone:
"You didn't need tricks or subterfuge, Monsieur Lecoq, to induce me to
tell what I know. I have evinced enough esteem and confidence in you to
deprive you of the right to arm yourself against me with the sad secret
which you have surprised."