"
"And this prisoner is not Arsene Lupin?"
"No."
"Then who is he?" demanded the judge.
"I do not know."
"Then we have before us a man who was substituted for Arsene
Lupin, two months ago. How do you explain that?"
"I cannot."
In absolute despair, the judge turned to the accused and addressed
him in a conciliatory tone:
"Prisoner, can you tell me how, and since when, you became an
inmate of the Prison de la Sante?"
The engaging manner of the judge was calculated to disarm the
mistrust and awaken the understanding of the accused man. He
tried to reply. Finally, under clever and gentle questioning, he
succeeded in framing a few phrases from which the following story
was gleaned: Two months ago he had been taken to the Depot,
examined and released. As he was leaving the building, a free
man, he was seized by two guards and placed in the prison-van.
Since then he had occupied cell 24. He was contented there,
plenty to eat, and he slept well--so he did not complain.
All that seemed probable; and, amidst the mirth and excitement of
the spectators, the judge adjourned the trial until the story
could be investigated and verified.
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