"We may not speak of it before Baron Bourlac," said Godefroid, "tell me now how your son got out of his trouble.""Well," said Vanda, "I told you, I think, that he is now employed by the attorney-general, who shows him the greatest kindness.Auguste was only forty-eight hours in the Conciergerie, where he was put into the governor's house.The good doctor, who did not receive a noble letter the boy wrote him till late at night, withdrew his complaint; and, through the influence of a former judge of the Royal Courts, whom my father has never been able to meet, the attorney-general was induced to annul the proceedings in the court.There is no trace left of the affair except in my heart and my son's conscience, and alas! in his grandfather's mind.From that day he has treated Auguste as almost a stranger.Only yesterday Halpersohn begged him to forgive the boy; but my father, who never before refused me anything--me, whom he loves so well!--replied: 'You are the person robbed; you can, and you ought to forgive; but I am responsible for the thief.When I was attorney-general I never pardoned.' 'You'll kill your daughter,' said Halpersohn.My father made no reply and turned away.""But who helped you in all this?"
"A gentleman, whom we think is employed to do the queen's benefits.""What is he like?"
"Well, he is of medium height; rather stout, but active; with a kindly, genial face.It was he who found my father ill of fever in the house where you knew us and had him brought to that in which we now live.And just fancy, as soon as my father recovered /I/ was installed there too, in my very own room, just as if I had never left it.