My culprit,--the true one,--he whom we have missed catching, feared everything.

Besides, does Albert defend himself?
No.

He is overwhelmed because he perceives coincidences so fatal that they appear to condemn him, without a chance of escape.

Does he try to excuse himself?
No.

He simply replies, 'It is terrible.' And yet all through his examination I feel reticence that I cannot explain." "I can explain it very easily; and I am as confident as though he had confessed everything.