"Alas!" said Gervaise, "you made me tell a monstrous lie; but I hope God will forgive me for it in view of my good intention."
"I'll take it upon myself," said Aubry. "Tell me what happened."
"Do you fancy that I know?" said Gervaise. "I was so ashamed that I hardly remember what it was all about. All I know is that the lieutenant criminal questioned me, and that I answered his questions sometimes yes, sometimes no: but I am not sure that I answered as I should."
"Wretched girl!" cried Aubry, "I believe it will turn out that she accused herself of seducing me."
"Oh, no! I don't think I went as far as that."
"At least they have my address, haven't they, so that they can summon me?"
"Yes," murmured Gervaise, "I gave it to them."
"It's all right then," said Aubry, "and now let us hope that God will do the rest."
Having escorted Gervaise to her abode and comforted her as best he could for the false testimony she had been compelled to give, Jacques Aubry returned home, overflowing with faith in Providence.
In fact, whether Providence took a hand in it, or chance did it all, Jacques Aubry received the next morning a summons to appear before the lieutenant criminal that same day.