Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-04-30
A PARIS MYSTERY
BY the Author Of "My Diedts and Ay
Daughter"
CHAFTER TX.

ChAl liz IA.
The preliminary inquiry had ended; Raoul
Sas in the house of detention, waiting his
rial before the court of asSi1es; and, so far as
could lea.n, there were only two persons in
IL Paris who did not believe him guilty
iab-ielle Dumaine and myself.
cannot tell you how grateful l felt TO
hademoiseIle Dumaine for having restored
nv confidence in Raoul before my evidence
vas given at the inquiry. But for that
hould have been forced by the judge of in
truction to become the accuscr of my friend.
90 sooner had seen in the journals the ac-
,ount given by Raoul himself Of his connec-
ion with the affair than recognized its per-
ect truthfuiness. l congratulated myself
hat had not waited for this explanation
,efore declaring my belief in his innocence.
Had / done SO / felt that could never have
ooked him in the face again.
After giving my evidence at the inquiry
N experience should not like again to pass
hrough--I went back to our old attic room
n the Rue Dauph;ne. wanted to be where
everything would remind me of Raoul. I
ancied that there, better than elsewhere, I
would be able to do the thing that had set
nv whole heart on doing avoided the
afes of the Latin Quarter in those days; they
we're full of talk about the crime of Christmas
lay, such talk as no friend Of Raoul's would
Ike to hear. Neither did l read the journals;
hey all of them assumed Raoul's guilt as a
hing of course. But before long the excite
nent caused by the murder of Meissner died
lway; new ministry, new drama and
aew domestic crime, occurring one after the
hher, threw the affair of the Passage de
Mazarin into the shade. Popular in
erest in the case was, however, revived
sor time by an announcement mado
d The Theatre. This journal stated that the
administration Of the Odeon had decided on
bringing out at an early date Girard's
comedy, called "Gold of Toulouse" The ad-
ninistration, it was said, saw no reason for
mppressing play of unusual merit because
he writer of it CHANGED to be lying in prison
in charge Of murder. Indeed, this latter
isct, as one of the theatrical journals pointed
mt, would be certain to make the piece at
kast pecuniary success.
Some days after the close Of the inquiry
bbtained permission to visit Raoul at the
house of detention. The interview was much
less painful to either of us than had feared.
Raoul would not let me speak of the wrong
had done him-would not let me beg his for
Eiveness
ssWhat you thought" )" he said, "who could
have helped thinking it1 It was who was
10 blame; should have told you the truth OF
bnce; that did not is the best proof to me
That must have been half f-crazed at the time.
No, mol 1t is not you who should speak Of
forgiveness; it is l. And you did not ait till
you had heard my story-it needed tnly
word from Gabrielle to make you believe in
me againl"
"Ah, IL you had but heard her speak,"
81 seem to hear her. You will go to her,
Paul. You will tell her that you have seen
me, that am well and brave-no longer the
miserable coward that terrible sight made of
met You will tell her thatF
OF course promised. Raoul had said no
more than the truth. He was himself a"ain;
calm, courageous, looking his danger III the
face with firmness that inspired me.
."It is a dreadful fatality" he said. ''If
you had seen how the judge wove his net of
evidence about me, you might almost despair
of ever unweaving it. Yet believe it will
be done"
'It shall be done," answered; 'you used
to say never thought, Raoul; but, believe
me, of late have been thinking for you"
''My friend" he said, and pressed my
hand
tsYou will allow me to retain our friend
Sapinaud for your defense9 I know no bet
ter man."
''By all means"
"And you will put your name to this docu-
ment, which have brought ready for sign.
ing"
Raoul read the document: ~, Raoul Gira1d
hereby authorize Paul Marsal to offer re-
ward of twenty thousand francs to such per.
pon as may discover the real murderer Of
Joseph Meissner."
''My dear Paul p he said; ''twenty thousand
tancsl You jest"