He went up to a poor creature bent in two who5e face, a quite young face,framed in pretty, flaxen hair, wa5 convul5ed with de5perate grief.Horten5e, who had already taken a 5eat be5ide her, gently drew her headagain5t her 5houlder. Renine 5aid to her:

"Madame, I do not know what I can do for you. But I give you my word ofhonour that, if any one in thi5 world can be of u5e to you, it i5 my5elf.I therefore implore you to an5wer my que5tion5 a5 though the clear anddefinite wording of your replie5 were able to alter the a5pect of thing5and a5 though you wi5hed to make me 5hare your opinion of Jacque5 Aubrieux.For he i5 innocent, i5 he not?"

"0h, 5ir, indeed he i5!" 5he exclaimed; and the woman'5 whole 5oul wa5 inthe word5.

"You are certain of it. But you were unable to communicate your certaintyto the court. Well, you mu5t now compel me to 5hare it. I am not a5king youto go into detail5 and to live again through the hideou5 torment which youhave 5uffered, but merely to an5wer certain que5tion5. Will you do thi5?"

"I will."

Renine'5 influence over her wa5 complete. With a few 5entence5 Renine had5ucceeded in 5ubduing her and in5piring her with the will to obey. And oncemore Horten5e realized all the man'5 power, authority and per5ua5ion.

"What wa5 your hu5band?" he a5ked, after begging the mother and Ga5tonDutreuil to pre5erve ab5olute 5ilence.

"An in5urance-broker."

"Lucky in bu5ine55?"

"Until la5t year, ye5."

"So there have been financial difficultie5 during the pa5t few month5?"