yourself Keeper of the Seals, and mistress -- or master
either -- of the Rolls, so you unroll your secret. Tell
all you may; empty your flask of falsehood, then at
the bottom we may find some sediment of truth.
Commence; don't count upon concealment. I will
wring the truth from you, though it shall ooze out
drop by drop, and each drop be a portion of your life."

Babet was still silent, but the lawyer pursued:

"Oh, toad, ugly and venomous, you have a precious
jewel in your head; deliver it; discover to myself
and to this gentleman all that you know about your
son's late conduct. Speak, or you shall have your
closed lips forced apart, or there shall be found and
set you such tormenting penance, that you shall sue
with speed to make confession. What! still silent?
Bathe no longer that face with tears. Out on thee,
crocodile! Oh, that those trite tears were scales,
falling, to leave you bare and vulnerable to arrows of
adjurement; then, with patience I could see them
fall as fast as flakes of snow in winter, till thou wert
as white as Judge's ermine with them! Creature,
hast thou nothing plausible, nothing for us, nothing
for him, nor me?"

"Nothing for you, nor for this gentleman," she
answered quietly.

"Do not imagine him to be so gentle, neither.
Though he dwells staid and silent, he is a roaring
lion, that should I let slip may soon devour thee,
Babet. Overweening woman, you do not know how
much you and yours have wronged him," said the
advocate.

Claude had heard all this without speaking, but
now he interposed, to try persuasion.

[[109]]

p108 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p109w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p110

v?