Conscience -- Volume 3

n surprise. saw his face, pale, agitated, under the shock evide

ter?" she asked,

answered, al

d not think of this hope and of Florentin. This was a path to lead him ou

true,"

Madame Dammauville saw pro

ame Dammauville, for you, and for

wev

l that I did not da

estimony is without value," s

ss the situation from divers points of view; that is what I try t

es me; I let mysel

way. Certainly, what this lady told y

s it

testimony she gives may be of great conseq

lady could have inv

before all, it is necess

w of an a

tutes a social status that merits consideration from the law;

so a little mo

ne of these with which this lady is afflicted, or one of the others, which permitted her really to see, the evening of the assassinatio

was pr

ght of all that

; but I am a doctor, and while you t

ue," she repeated. "I

ope. But I am not in your place. It is by your voice that this woman speaks, whom I do not know, and a

came to her eyes, and she let them f

to pain yo

Florentin'

rother liberty. It is not on a testimony of this kind or of this quality that the law decides; better than we, it knows to what illusions people can lend themselves when it is the question of a crime that absorbs and excites the public c

self that, whatever the paralysis of this woman might be, it had not, in this instance, produced either defect of sight or of mind. She had seen, indeed, the tall man wit

looking at him, and who saw him so plainly that she had not forgotten him. He thought to use all precautions on his side in drawing the curtains, when, on the contrary, he would have done better had he left them undrawn. Without doubt the widow of the attorney would have been a witness of a part of the scen

hope that Madame Dammauville put in her heart, momen

dame Dammauville reall

our brother, as we know. Unfortunately, it is not ourselves who must be convinced, since we are convinced in adva

e Dammauville

hing is, if she is in a state to se

surely know on

out d

were thi

shed that he should present himself before this

etraying his emotion, he must

o not know, and who does not know me? You know very well that

sent f

hat r

ncierge talk, could you not recognize h

her relations, which is important for a witness who overawes as much by what he is as by what he says. You understand that a deposition that destroys the whole plan of the

ay know him. What he would tell you would be worth

e paralysis, and we should see what cre

the different kinds of paralysis. He knew her well enough to know that he had succeeded. But what would she do now? How did she mean to make use of Madame Dammauville's declaration? Had she spoken of it to any one besides himself? Was it her intention to go to Nougarede

e Madame Dammauv

this m

hat do you

ought to tell Mo

should know it; he will appraise it. Only, as it is well to explain to

wish it, and

omorrow or this evening you will return to the Rue Sainte-Anne and begin your inquiries of the concierge. If the old woman tells you nothing interesting, you must go to Madame Dammauville, and make some reason for seeing her. Make her talk, and you will notice if her id

aid timidly, after

ha

ome with me to the co

such a thing!"

; and it was not when the description given by Madame Dammauville was, doubtless, already spread in the qu

unheard of and ridiculous; add that it would be dangerous. You must conciliate Madame Dammauville, and this would be truly a stu

hile I could only listen to what the concierge would tell me, you would know h

e will consider what to do. In the mean time, return to the concierge this evening and question her. If it is possible, see Madame Dammauvil