The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1877-11-23

down as if by magic.
But enough of that" he said TO his
wife There's something more i'm
portant just now. We've had no din
ner, and are starving, can you give us
tsome supper"
What had happened this evening
must have occurred too frequently for
Madame Mechinet to allow herself TO
be found unprepared-
''You shall have supper in five min
utes," she replied, with the pleasant
est of smiles.
In fact, a moment after, we were
seated at a table before an excellant
piece of cold roast beef, attended by
Madame Mechinet, who constantly
filled our glasses with excellent Macon
wine.
While my worthy neighbor was con
scientiously devoting himself to his
supper, 1, looking at his peaceful home
and pretty little wife, asked myself if
this were really one of the fierce
detectives, who have been the heroes
of so many absurd tales.
But our hunger was soon appeased,
and Monsieur Mechinet began to tell
his wife about our expedition. And
he did not relate the affair carelessly,
but gave the most minute details.
She was seated by his side, and the
way in which she listened asking ex-
plantations when she did not under
stand, revealed the bourgeoise Egeria,
who was accustomed to be consulted.
When Monsieur Mechinet had fin
ished, she said,-
you've made one great mistake,an
irreparable mistake"
"WhatG
"You ought not to have gone to tue
prefecture when you left the BATH
gnolles."
"But Monistrol-"
"Yes, you wanted to question him
What did you gaina"
Il have gained, my dear"
"Nothing. It's to the Rue Vivenne
you ought to have gone, to the wife.
You would have surprised her under
the Influence of the agitation she must
necessarily have felt at her husbands
arrest, and if she is an accomplice, as
may be supposed, by little adroitness.
you would have made her confess"
had started from my chair at the
words,
''What, madame" 1 cried, .'you
think Monistrol guilty"
After moments hesitation, she an |
swered,-
"Yes."
Then, in very eager tone, shs con-
tinued,-
"But I'm sure, perfectly sure, that
the idea of the murder originated irh
the wife. Out of every twenty crimes
committed by men, fifteen are con
ceived and inspired by women. Ask
Mechinet. The coDcierge's testimony
ought to have enlightened you. What
is this Madame Monistrol2 A remark !
ably beautiful person, you were told,
coquettish, ambitious, consumed by
covetousness, a woman who leads her
husband about by the nose. Now,
what were her circumstances? Poor,
precarious. She suffered from
them, as is proved by her asking her
uncle to lend her a hundred thousand |
francs. He refused. thus battling her
hopes. Do you suppose that she did
not bear him a mortal hatred, She
must have often repeated, IF this old
miser were dead, We should be rich.'
And when she saw him healthy and
strong as an oak, she said to herself,
Hell! live "a hundred years-when he
leaves us his property, we shan't be
able to enjoy it,and who knows wheth
er he won't bury u.s. Is it so long a
step from this point to the thoush BIT as
committing a crime2 And when the
was once fixed in her
mind. she gradually prepared her hrs-
band, familiarizei him with the
thought of murder, put, so to speak,
the knife in his hand. And one day,
threatened with bankruptcy, worn out
by his wife's lamentation, he dealt the
blow"
"All this is logical" said Monsieur
Mechinet.
Very logical, undoubtedly, but what
became of the circumstances discovered
by usi
''Then, madame" said l, ''you
think Monistrol was stupid enough to
denounce himself by writing his
name"
She shrugged her shoulders, and an.
swered.-
SIS that a folly. / don't think SO,
since it is your strongest argument in
favor of his innocence"
The reasoning was so specious, that
for a moment felt bewildered. Then
myself: "But he confesses
that he is guilty, madame" l insisted.
"An excellent way of engaging the
law to prove his innocence.
"Ohr'
"You are proof of it. my dear
Monsieur Godeuil."
why, madame, the unfortunate
man dosen't even know how bis uncle
was murdered
Excuse me; he dosen't seem to
is not the same thing"
The discussion became animated
and would have lasted long time if
Monsieur Mechinet had not put an end
to it.
"Come, come" he said to his wife
kindly, you're too romantic this
evening""
Then addressing himself to hIe,-
"As to you," he continued, ''l'll
take you with me to morrow, and we'll
call on Madame Monistr) il. Now, as
I'm almost dead with sleep, good
night"
He could sleep, but l could not close
my eyes.
A secret voice in my heart cried out
that Monistrol was innocent