“Let us go, gentlemen.”
The priest was waiting, and rose quickly from his chair when he saw M.
Daubigeon enter, accompanied by M. Galpin, M. Folgat, and Dr. Seignebos.
“Perhaps you wish to speak to me alone, sir?” asked M. Daubigeon.
“No, sir,” replied the old priest, “no! The words of reparation which
have been intrusted to me must be uttered publicly.” And handing him a
letter, he added,--
“Read this. Please read it aloud.”
The commonwealth attorney tore the envelope with a tremulous hand, an
then read,--
“Being about to die as a Christian, as I have lived as a Christian, I
owe it to myself, I owe it to God whom I have offended, and I owe it to
those men whom I have deceived, to declare the truth.
“Actuated by hatred, I have been guilty of giving false evidence in
court, and of stating wrongfully that M. de Boiscoran is the man who
shot at me, and that I recognized him in the act.
“I did not only not recognize him, but I know that he is innocent. I am
sure of it; and I swear it by all I hold sacred in this world which I
am about to leave, and in that world in which I must appear before my
sovereign Judge.
“May M. de Boiscoran pardon me as I pardon myself.
“TRIVULCE COUNT CLAUDIEUSE.”
“Poor man!” murmured M. Folgat.