Within an Inch of His Life

was going on out doors. Dr. Seignebos was on the point of resuming the operation; and, as coolly as if he had been in his own rooms at home, he was washing the sponge which he had

d at last brought him that famous criminal cas

erve. He was tossing about on his bed; and as soon as the mayo

s that up

heard of the ca

sfortune. Poor men! to die because they were so brave,-Bolton hardly thirty years

in at that moment,

voice full of deep emotion, "neither Bolton's mother, no

hat moment the peasants crowded into the

trate?" they asked.

eu!" exclaim

elf. We want him to tell it to the magist

whose sight recalled to him that great failure which the

to examine him?" he aske

swered the ma

Because he cannot possibly understand your

a valuable hin

eally think so. The law cannot attach an

atience by an increase of

my dut

you in this investigation. I obey; and I declare officially, that the mental condition of thi

uragement from M. Daubigeon; bu

would you do if this poor fellow should make a formal char

tening with open mout

not so innocen

hat he wants to say, th

y. "He thought of them when I was unconscious, and when no one else remembered them. Co

ocoleu was thoroughly terrified by the brutal treatmen

afraid," he

rotest," said

alone in his opinion. Count Claudie

might be dangerous

n, and conscious of all the powers conferred

e which did not allow of any reply,-"I mus

down, he ask

y to understand what I say. Do you

replied

d two good men. But that is not all: they have tried to murder the count. Do you see him th

rted features betrayed nothing of

the doctor, "what ob

rd him, and s

ave not far from here, men whose duty it is

in to the poor id

f a vile incendiary. You hate him, do

said

to be punish

s,

t the gendarmes may catch him, and put him in jail.

a moment, as Cocoleu

it, whom has this p

ired; but no answer came. Perhaps Cocoleu had

he poor devil, so to say, never sleeps, and that he is roami

; suddenly changing the form of hi

you spend

the-cou

ep when the fi

N

see it

es

d it co

se with the timid and abject expression of a dog

," said the Countes

ligence shone in

t it on fire,

purp

es

ho

entl

ene who did not anxiously hold his breath as the word w

mination is

is words; and, turning to Cocoleu, he ask

see the g

es

know who

-very

is his

, y

his name?

f his mind. He hesitated, and at last he answered

n and incredulous laughter. There was not a shad

diary! Who does he think

d!" said Cou

eated the mayor

pectacles, and was wiping them wi

ut the gentleman did not condescend to

excessively pale, and made, visibly, the greatest efforts to preserve his e

would stop here, and consi

self-conceit, and who would rather be cut to pieces

all g

t of so deep a silence that the buzzing of a f

ay? Do you know that you are acc

ated. Big drops of perspiration rolled slowly down his temples;

g the-truth!" h

an has set Valp

es

id he

unt, who looked indignant, to the countess, who seemed t

pe

ns, and painful efforts to speak, that he had seen M. de Boiscoran pull out some papers from his pocket, light them with a match, put them unde

the doctor, thus giving words

stered his excitemen

displeasure, I shall send for the g

nce more to Coc

scoran so distinctly, te

still most painfully, "a dark-brown shooting-jacket, and a

at last hit upon a suspicious fact. The costume which Coc

fire," said the magistrate

ehind the

d t

and, when master c

he forgot the pain which his wounds cau

man with such a crime! If he really saw M. de Boiscoran set the house on fi

submissively, to the great amazem

give warning?"

ed his little strength. He broke out into stupid laughter; and almost instantly one of h

itating on what was to be done next. The commonwealth attorney asked

secu

ha

tried my best, by urging this poor idiot, to prove the absu

d n

tion. My honor is at stake. I must establish either the guilt or the innocence of t

Claudieuse, to tell me what your

ion caused the wounde

ir, that you believe t

magistrate. "My duty is to unrav

you what the state

you will answe

ooked angry; but h

Boiscoran are neither goo

e heard it myself, tha

Boiscoran spends nine months of the year in Paris. He ha

eard speaking of him

gitimist: he used to be an Orleanist, and now he is a Republican. I believe that the descendant of our old kings alone can save the country; and he is convinced that the happiness of France is possib

swers with extreme care. When

l opinions only. You have had person

impor

n: you have

n unlucky brook between us, which is a sou

ook his head

had with each other. Everybody in the country

seemed to be in

ed dogs that were continually escaping from his kennels, and came hu

M. de Boiscoran, and you warned h

. But I was wrong, a thousand

other: he actually aimed at you. Don't deny it. A number of pe