"She said it word for word," replied the clerk.
"Then if she said it," continued Aubry, "if she said it—why—"
"Well?" queried the lieutenant criminal.
"Why, it must be so."
"Write that the accused pleads guilty to all the charges."
The clerk wrote as directed.
"Pardieu!" said the student to himself, "if Ascanio deserves a week in the Châtelet for simply paying court to Colombe, I, who have deceived Gervaise, drugged her, and seduced her, can count upon three months' incarceration at the very least. But, faith, I would like to be sure of my facts. However, I must congratulate Gervaise. Peste! she kept to her word, and Jeanne d'Arc was nowhere beside her."
"So you confess to all the crimes you're accused of?" said the judge.
"I do, messire," replied Jacques unhesitatingly; "I do: all of them and more too, if you choose. I am a great sinner, Monsieur le Lieutenant Criminel, don't spare me."
"Impudent varlet!" muttered the magistrate, in the tone in which the uncle of comedy speaks to his nephew, "impudent varlet, out upon you!"