"This d'Escorval calls the restitution of a deposit a great misfortune! Go on, witness." "In the second place," resumed Chupin, "the accused was always prowling about Lacheneur's house." "That is false," interrupted the baron.

"I never visited the house but once, and on that occasion I implored him to renounce." He paused, comprehending only when it was too late, the terrible significance of his words.

But having begun, he would not retract, and he added: "I implored him to renounce this project of an insurrection." "Ah! then you knew his wicked intentions ?" "I suspected them." "Not to reveal a conspiracy makes one an accomplice, and means the guillotine." Baron d'Escorval had just signed his death-warrant.
Strange caprice of destiny! He was innocent, and yet he was the only one among the accused whom a regular tribunal could have legally condemned.
Maurice and the abbe were prostrated with grief; but Chanlouineau, who turned toward them, had still upon his lips a smile of confidence.
How could he hope when all hope seemed absolutely lost?
But the commissioners made no attempt to conceal their satisfaction.

M.
de Sairmeuse, especially, evinced an indecent joy.
"Ah, well! Messieurs ?" he said to the lawyers, in a sneering tone.
The counsel for the defence poorly dissimulated their discouragement; but they nevertheless endeavored to question the validity of such a declaration on the part of their client.

He had said that he _suspected_ the conspiracy, not that he _knew_ it.