“Thatisaverysimplematter，“answeredthepresident，calmly。“Weconfrontyouwithhimwhoatyourdirectionimitatedthehandwritingofthequeenandwrotetheletters。Officer，summonthelastwitness!“
Theofficerthrewopenthedoorwhichledtothenextroom。A
breathlesssilenceprevailedinthegreathall；everyonewasintenselyeagertoseethislastwitnesswhowastouncovertheweboffraudsofthecountess’sspinning。Thegreatburningeyesoftheaccused，too，wereturnedtothisdoor，andhercompressedlipsandherpiercingglancedisclosedalittleoftheanxietyofhersoul，althoughherbearingandmannerwerestillimpudentandscornful。
Andnowthedooropened，andacryofamazementandragebrokefromthelipsofthecountess。
“RetauxdeVilette，“criedshemadly，doublingupherlittlehandsintofistsandextendingthemtowardthemanwhonowenteredthehall。“Shameful，shameful!Hehasturnedagainstme!“