He gazed, with a wild look, at
the strange man who had narrated the story of his crime as
faithfully as if he had been an invisible witness to it. Overcome
and powerless, Victor bowed his head. He felt that it was useless
to struggle against this marvelous man. So he said:
"How much will you give me, if I give you the pearl?"
"Nothing."
"Oh! you are joking! Or do you mean that I should give you an
article worth thousands and hundreds of thousands and get nothing
in return?"
"You will get your life. Is that nothing?"
The unfortunate man shuddered. Then Grimaudan added, in a milder
tone:
"Come, Danegre, that pearl has no value in your hands. It is quite
impossible for you to sell it; so what is the use of your keeping
it?"
"There are pawnbrokers....and, some day, I will be able to get
something for it."
"But that day may be too late."
"Why?"
"Because by that time you may be in the hands of the police, and,
with the evidence that I can furnish--the knife, the key, the thumb-
mark--what will become of you?"
Victor rested his head on his hands and reflected. He felt that he
was lost, irremediably lost, and, at the same time, a sense of
weariness and depression overcame him.
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