The President of the Court, who seemed to take a great interest in the problem on trial before him, questioned Mme. Desruelles as to the cause of her sudden trip to New York.
She pointed to Desruelles with a scornful finger. “_Ca!_” she cried, “he had a mistress; he wished to abandon me; he called me Cosaque! He appointed to meet her in New York after settling up his cousin’s estate. I determined to make his amours uncomfortable. I pursued the woman to New York. I pulled her hair; I boxed her ears; I made her flee in dismay to California; then, my mission performed, I returned to Paris.”
The unhappy Scipion, in utter prostration of astonished protest, lifted his helpless hands and denied the mistress, the assignation--everything.
His wife turned away with an incredulous, scornful shrug.
“I have your letters, Monsieur. I compelled the creature to surrender them to me.”
The President ordered Mme. Desruelles to produce the letters, and while the huissier was gone examined M. Pache.
The latter gentleman testified as to the facts of Desruelles’ visit to Martinique, the false will, etc., and positively identified Desruelles.
“Have you ever seen that will?” asked the President.
“I have it here,” said the President. “It is duly authenticated, signed and sealed--look at it!”
“Mon Dieu! that is my own signature, and that notarial signature I would swear to as Alphonse Domairon’s!”
At this moment the huissier came into court with the package of letters, which he handed to the president. That officer looked over them, with Pache still upon the stand.
“M. Pache,” said the president, handing a letter to the witness, “do you identify that handwriting?”
“Be kind enough to read that letter aloud to the Court.”
M. Pache, adjusting his eye glasses, read, “Ma Mignon: The will is all perfect. The Cosaque totally deceived. I sail for Martinique to-morrow, and _ma poudre de succession_ will make short work of my stumbling-block of a cousin!”
He turned severely upon Desruelles: “Atrocious wretch! You plotted to poison me, then! I abandon the case.”
Desruelles fell back fainting. Mme. Desruelles eagerly came forward. “I swear, Judge, that letter was not in the parcel I received from Mlle. Tolly! I never saw it before!”