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As Michaud leaves, Flambon locks the door, his anger increas-. ing as he realizes that he will not be able' to cancel his debt. Claudine secures her wrap and is attempting to leave the apartment to meet Gaston when Flambon stops her, and Marie, overhearing their angry voices, again tries to interfere. Flambon hurls Claudine to the floor and rushes at Marie. Claudine is at first stunned by the shock, but realizing that her mother's very life is in jeopardy, grasps the revolver which is lying at her hand, and fires at Flambon.
As he drops lifeless to the floor, the revelers from the cafe below appear as well as a gendarme from the street. The gendarme questions them swiftly and Claudine, admitting everything, is taken into custody to await trial.
Claude Lescuyer, in the intervening eighteen years, has risen higher and higher in his profession and is now the attorney-general of all Paris. It is he who is to prosecute, for the^ state, the case of Claudine. At the trial he fails to recognize Marie, she is so changed by the terrible experiences she has gone through. As her eyes have greatly failed her, she, in turn, fails to recognize Claude .
Claude severely cross-examines both Marie and Claudine and insists that Marie call a witness who can testify as to her former good name. Dr. Berlier is called and he recognizes Marie. Claude is stunned and amazed to learn Marie's real identity. He bitterly denounces the man who has caused her downfall, asks why he is not there at her side, and then, stepping down from the judge's enclosure, throws aside his robe and announces that he is the "guilty man." This causes a tremendous sensation in the court room. The judge raps for order and instructs the jury to disregard Claude's announcement and to bring in a verdict according to the testimony. The jury soon reach their decision, which, of course, is "Not Guilty."
Claudine is then free, and goes to Gaston, who awaits her with open arms. Claude, broken by the realization of the harm he has caused, begs Marie to forgive him, and this she promises to do as she wearily lays her head on his shoulder.
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