Monsieur Lecoq | Page 7

dangerous,
probably mortal.
"It will be nothing," affirmed Gevrol in his turn; "wounds in the head,
when they do not kill at once, are cured in a month."
The wounded man smiled sadly. "I have received my death blow," he
murmured.
"Nonsense!"
"Oh! it is useless to say anything; I feel it, but I do not complain. I have
only received my just deserts."
All the police agents turned toward the murderer on hearing these
words, presuming that he would take advantage of this opportunity to
repeat his protestations of innocence. But their expectations were
disappointed; he did not speak, although he must certainly have heard
the words.
"It was that brigand, Lacheneur, who enticed me here," continued the
wounded man, in a voice that was growing fainter.
"Lacheneur?"
"Yes, Jean Lacheneur, a former actor, who knew me when I was
rich--for I had a fortune, but I spent it all; I wished to amuse myself. He,
knowing I was without a single sou in the world, came and promised
me money enough to begin life over again. Fool that I was to believe
him, for he brought me to die here like a dog! Oh! I will have my
revenge on him!" At this thought the wounded man clenched his hands
threateningly. "I will have my revenge," he resumed. "I know much
more than he believes. I will reveal everything."
But he had presumed too much upon his strength. Anger had given him
a moment's energy, but at the cost of his life which was ebbing away.
When he again tried to speak, he could not. Twice did he open his lips,
but only a choking cry of impotent rage escaped them. This was his last
manifestation of intelligence. A bloody foam gathered upon his lips, his
eyes rolled back in their sockets, his body stiffened, and he fell face
downward in a terrible convulsion.
"It is over," murmured Gevrol.
"Not yet," replied the young police agent, who had shown himself so

proficient; "but he can not live more than two minutes. Poor devil! he
will say nothing."
The inspector of police had risen from the floor as if he had just
witnessed the commonest incident in the world, and was carefully
dusting the knees of his trousers. "Oh, well," he responded, "we shall
know all we need to know. This fellow is a soldier, and the number of
his regiment will be given on the buttons of his cloak."
A slight smile curved the lips of the subordinate. "I think you are
mistaken, General," said he.
"How--"
"Yes, I understand. Seeing him attired in a military coat, you
supposed--But no; this poor wretch was no soldier. Do you wish for an
immediate proof? Is his hair the regulation cut? Where did you ever see
soldiers with their hair falling over their shoulders?"
This objection silenced the General for a moment; but he replied
bruskly: "Do you think that I keep my eyes in my pocket? What you
have remarked did not escape my notice; only I said to myself, here is a
young man who has profited by leave of absence to visit the wig
maker."
"At least--"
But Gevrol would permit no more interruptions. "Enough talk," he
declared. "We will now hear what has happened. Mother Chupin, the
old hussy, is not dead!"
As he spoke, he advanced toward the old woman, who was still
crouching upon the stairs. She had not moved nor ventured so much as
a look since the entrance of the police, but her moans had not been
discontinued. With a sudden movement, Gevrol tore off the apron
which she had thrown over her head, and there she stood, such as years,
vice, poverty, and drink had made her; wrinkled, shriveled, toothless,
and haggard, her skin as yellow and as dry as parchment and drawn
tightly over her bones.
"Come, stand up!" ordered the inspector. "Your lamentations don't
affect me. You ought to be sent to prison for putting such vile drugs
into your liquors, thus breeding madness in the brains of your
customers."
The old woman's little red eyes traveled slowly round the room, and
then in tearful tones she exclaimed: "What a misfortune! what will

become of me? Everything is broken--I am ruined!" She only seemed
impressed by the loss of her table utensils.
"Now tell us how this trouble began," said Gevrol.
"Alas! I know nothing about it. I was upstairs mending my son's clothes,
when I heard a dispute."
"And after that?"
"Of course I came down, and I saw those three men that are lying there
picking a quarrel with the young man you have arrested; the poor
innocent! For he is innocent, as truly as I am an honest woman. If my
son Polyte had been here he would