Within an Inch of His Life

ybody knew, also, that it was perfectly useless to try and help him. The two men who had taken him out had therefore laid hi

sed M. de Boiscoran of such a crime, neither with cruel jokes nor with fierce curses. Unfortunately, first impulses, which are apt to be good impulses, do not

why

at once a door to all

always come from the count, and that the latter had invariably given way in the end. Why, therefore, might not M. de Boiscoran, impatient at last,

se he is a nobleman, and because h

could astonish the world if they chose to talk. They were urged to tell what they knew; and, of course, they refused. But they had said too much already. Willing or not willing, they were carried up to th

it now?"

ed the peasants. "Here

having exchanged glances with M. Da

ng you some more

ll enough to bear in mind, that, unless he took them at the moment when they were wi

time to our conversation,"

g to M. Senes

sses come in,

five, broad-shouldered, with a very small head, a low brow, and formidable crimson ears. For twenty miles all around, he was reputed to be a

do you

th a marvellously conceited air, which set

ebody was waiting for me, and I was behind time: so I cut right across the marsh. I knew the rains of the last days would

coldly. The handsome fellow looked surprised, rather

he Seille swamps. They were overflowing; and the water was two inches above the stones of the canal. I asked myself h

uite sure

emed to be surprised. I was as much so as he was. 'Why, is it you, sir?' I said. He replied 'Yes: I have to see somebody at Brechy.' That was very probably so; still I said again, 'But you have chosen a queer way.' He laughed. '

the statement as fast as it

de Boiscor

a shooting-jacket of brown velvetee

end seem to be less troubled. One circumstance in Ribot's evidence seemed to have struck them w

pin to the young man. "Le

nson. He was called Father Gaudry. Unlike young Ribot, who had shown great assurance, the old man

, and I was going through the forest of Roc

wood!" said the m

r sir, I was very quietly going to sleep in the forest, so as to be up with daylight, and gather champignons and other mushrooms t

you were

ment I saw M. de Boiscoran pass by. I recognized him perfectly in spite of the dark; for he seemed to be i

e have

the very thing that frightened m

ose little farm lay on the other side of the forest of Rochepommie

me: and so I staid to supper. About ten o'clock, they gave me a bag full of flour. The boys put it on my ass, and I went home. I was about half-way, and it was, perhaps, eleven o'clock, when, just at the edge of the forest of Rochepommier, my ass stumbled, and the bag fell off. I had a great deal of trouble, for I was not st

of a doorkeeper, and barring the entrance to the eager and curious crowd outside. When Mrs. Court

one else who k

he closed the door

ome now, my friends. Let

alpin was utterly overcome by consternation. He sat at the little table, on which he had been writin

oment, his customary rigidity, he let his mask o

he had hoped for some help or

swer

e overwhelming impression made by this accumulation of evidence; but in vain.

t that the terrible excitement of this poor man has not restored to him for a time the use of his reason? When he told you that he had witnessed the crime, and when he gave the

al habits, stronger than every thing

hes, at the risk of sinking in, or of getting wet from head to foot. On his return he chooses, in spite of the darkness, the forest of Rochepommier, unmindful of the danger he runs to lose his way, and to wander about in it till daybreak. What was he doing this for? Evidently, in order not to be seen. And, in fac

rowled Dr. Seigne

r the interruption. Speaking f

efore, have easily reached Valpinson at half-past nine. At that hour the crime had not yet been committed. When was he seen returning home? Gaudry and the woman Courtois have told you the hour,-after eleven o'clock. At that time Count Claudieuse had been shot, and Valpins

pulling handfuls of leaves from the branches. What does Mrs. Courtois say? Nothing. When she calls him, he does not venture to run; that would have been a confession, but he is in a great hurry to help her. And then? His way for a quarter of an hour i

properly speaking, no fixed rules prescribed. As soon as a crime has been reported to a French magistrate, he is at liberty to do any thing he chooses in order to discover the guilty one. Absolutely master of the case, responsible only to his conscience, and endowed with extraordinary powers, he proceeds as he

a legal inquiry?" a

spectacles, and was w

rejudiced by Cocoleu's accusation. But for it, you would never have troubled yourselves about what M. De Boiscoran did, or did not. He walked about the whole evening. He has a right to do so. He crossed the marsh. What hindered him? He went through the woods. Why should he not? He is met with by people. Is not that quite natural? But no: an idiot accuses him, and forthwith all he does looks suspicious. He talks. It is the insolence of a hardened criminal. He is silent. It is the remorse of a guilt

alth attorney,-"doctor, you are

of it, I a

rupted, and this time by C

probabilities, I put a fact,-the character of the accused. M. de Boiscoran is a man o

sented. M. Se

ung, handsome, in excellent health, immensely wealthy, esteemed and popular with everybody. Finally, there is another fact, which is a family secret, but which I may tell you, and which will remove at

d the sunlight fell upon the window-panes. But no one noticed this: all these men gathered around the bed of the wounded man were too deeply excited. M. Galpin had listened to the objection made by the o

cause long before you. But I am the representative of the law; and my duty is above my affections. Does it depend on me to set aside Cocoleu's accusation, howeve

istressed beyond expre

een suggested by my wife or by myself. If I could only get up! At least, let M. de Boiscoran know distinctly that I am ready to answer for him, as I would answer f

is; but latterly she had felt exhausted. She had sunk upon a stool, near the bed on which her two daughters were lying; and, her head hid in the pillow, she seem

mes; and I should have allowed any means to be unused by which the guilty one may be found ou

ow could a man who has the happiness of being loved by Dionysia de Chandore, an

nocence," replied the

his lips in the mos

n's logic for yo

suspicion will remain. And our people are so constituted, that this suspicion will overshadow his whole lif

who replied, but the commonwe

ave heard Cocoleu's deposition, and the evidence given by the witnesses, if the inquiry were stopped? They would certainly say M. de Boiscoran was guilty, but that he was not held responsible because he was rich and noble. Upon my honor I bel

. "Suppose he did not see anybody there? Suppose it was

h almost by itself relieves M. de Boiscoran. Would he not have loaded his gun with a ball, if he sho

missed me at ten yards' d

as heard knocking f

cried M.

ants appeared, looking bewilde

one of them, "found

asked M.

case; but Pitard says it is

d himself on his pillo

times quite near to the house to frighten the birds awa

nt gave i

ular was that it was blackened by burnt powder; but it had not been torn, nor had it blazed up in the discharge.

ver belonged to me

e, so pale, that his wife came close to him, and l

el

de no

s so eloquent, that the countess f

u was right,

ade no remark. He took the metal case from the count's hands, knowing that it might become an important piece of evidence; and for

re standing respectfully and uncover

ind this cartrid

keep the tools, and where the ivy

ime succeeded in recovering h

d from there. You cannot even see the

oes not necessarily fall to the ground at the place where the gu

at even Dr. Seignebo

Galpin, "which of you has

her when we saw it

me your names and your domicile, so that

doffings of hats. Just at that moment the furious gallop of a horse was heard approaching the ho

!" he said. "I thought he

gs that were sent him, then, bowing with

most as pressing to save the life of the murdered man. I have probably delayed the binding up of the count's wounds