Be it so. I take my chance of
that; but I ask you to keep silent as to Gaston Vandeloup being
Octave Braulard.'
'Why should I?' said the doctor, harshly.
'For many admirable reasons,' replied Vandeloup, smoothly. 'In the
first place, as Braulard's friend, I can prove the case against
Mademoiselle Marchurst quite as well as if I appeared as Braulard
himself. In the next place, you have no evidence to prove I am
identical with the murderer of Adele Blondet; and, lastly, suppose
you did prove it, what satisfaction would it be to you to send me
back to a French prison? I have suffered enough for my crime, and
now I am rich and respectable, why should you drag me back to the
depths again? Read "Les Miserables" of our great Hugo before you
answer, my friend.'
'Read the book long ago,' retorted Gollipeck, gruffly, more moved by
the argument than he cared to show; 'I will keep silent about this
if you leave the colony at once.'
'I agree,' said Vandeloup, pointing to the floor; 'you see I had
already decided to travel before you entered. Any other
stipulation?'
'None,' retorted the doctor, putting on his scarf again; 'with
Octave Braulard I have nothing to do: I want to find out who killed
Selina Sprotts, and if you did, I won't spare you.'
'First, catch your hare,' replied Vandeloup, smoothly, going to the
door and unlocking it; 'I am ready to stand the test of a trial, and
surely that ought to content you.
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