Monsieur Lecoq | Page 8

have separated them; but I, a poor
widow, what could I do! I cried 'Police!' with all my might."
After giving this testimony she resumed her seat, thinking she had said
enough. But Gevrol rudely ordered her to stand up again. "Oh! we have
not done," said he. "I wish for other particulars."
"What particulars, dear Monsieur Gevrol, since I saw nothing?"
Anger crimsoned the inspector's ears. "What would you say, old
woman, if I arrested you?"
"It would be a great piece of injustice."
"Nevertheless, it is what will happen if you persist in remaining silent. I
have an idea that a fortnight in Saint Lazare would untie your tongue."
These words produced the effect of an electric shock on the Widow
Chupin. She suddenly ceased her hypocritical lamentations, rose,
placed her hands defiantly on her hips, and poured forth a torrent of
invective upon Gevrol and his agents, accusing them of persecuting her
family ever since they had previously arrested her son, a
good-for-nothing fellow. Finally, she swore that she was not afraid of
prison, and would be only too glad to end her days in jail beyond the
reach of want.
At first the General tried to impose silence upon the terrible termagant:
but he soon discovered that he was powerless; besides, all his
subordinates were laughing. Accordingly he turned his back upon her,
and, advancing toward the murderer, he said: "You, at least, will not
refuse an explanation."
The man hesitated for a moment. "I have already said all that I have to
say," he replied, at last. "I have told you that I am innocent; and this
woman and a man on the point of death who was struck down by my
hand, have both confirmed my declaration. What more do you desire?

When the judge questions me, I will, perhaps, reply; until then do not
expect another word from me."
It was easy to see that the fellow's resolution was irrevocable; and that
he was not to be daunted by any inspector of police. Criminals
frequently preserve an absolute silence, from the very moment they are
captured. These men are experienced and shrewd, and lawyers and
judges pass many sleepless nights on their account. They have learned
that a system of defense can not be improvised at once; that it is, on the
contrary, a work of patience and meditation; and knowing what a
terrible effect an apparently insignificant response drawn from them at
the moment of detection may produce on a court of justice, they remain
obstinately silent. So as to see whether the present culprit was an old
hand or not, Gevrol was about to insist on a full explanation when some
one announced that the soldier had just breathed his last.
"As that is so, my boys," the inspector remarked, "two of you will
remain here, and I will leave with the others. I shall go and arouse the
commissary of police, and inform him of the affair; he will take the
matter in hand: and we can then do whatever he commands. My
responsibility will be over, in any case. So untie our prisoner's legs and
bind Mother Chupin's hands, and we will drop them both at the
station-house as we pass."
The men hastened to obey, with the exception of the youngest among
them, the same who had won the General's passing praise. He
approached his chief, and motioning that he desired to speak with him,
drew him outside the door. When they were a few steps from the house,
Gevrol asked him what he wanted.
"I wish to know, General, what you think of this affair."
"I think, my boy, that four scoundrels encountered each other in this
vile den. They began to quarrel; and from words they came to blows.
One of them had a revolver, and he killed the others. It is as clear as
daylight. According to his antecedents, and according to the
antecedents of the victims, the assassin will be judged. Perhaps society
owes him some thanks."
"And you think that any investigation--any further search is
unnecessary."
"Entirely unnecessary."
The younger man appeared to deliberate for a moment. "It seems to me,

General," he at length replied, "that this affair is not perfectly clear.
Have you noticed the murderer, remarked his demeanor, and observed
his look? Have you been surprised as I have been--?"
"By what?"
"Ah, well! it seems to me--I may, of course, be mistaken--but I fancy
that appearances are deceitful, and--Yes, I suspect something."
"Bah!--explain yourself, please."
"How can you explain the dog's faculty of scent?"
Gevrol shrugged his shoulders. "In short, he replied, "you scent a
melodrama here--a rendezvous of gentlemen in disguise, here at the
Poivriere, at Mother Chupin's house. Well, hunt after the mystery, my
boy; search all you like,