Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-04-24
CHAPTER TX

The preliminary inquiry had ended; Raoul
was in the house of detention, waiting his
trial before the court of assizes; and, SO far as
could learn, there were only two persons in
all Paris who did not believe him guilty
Gabrielle Dumaine and myself
I cannot tell you how grateful felt to
Mademoisene Dunaine for having restored
my confidence in Raoul before my evidence
was given at the inquiry. But for that /
should have been forced by the judge of in
struction to become the accuser of my friend
No sooner had seen in the journals the &C
count given by Raoul himself of his connec-
hon with the affairSthan recognized its per-
feet Jruthfulness. I congratulated myself
that I had not waited for this explanation
before declaring my belief in his innocence.
Had done so felt that could never have
looked him in the face again.
After giving my evidence at the inquiry
an experience should not like again to pass
through went back to our old attic room
in the Rue Dauphine. wanted to be where
everything would remind me of Raoul. I
fancied that there, better than elsewhere, T
would be able to do the thing that had set
my whole heart on doing. I avoided the
cafes of the Latin Quarter In those days; they
we're full of talk about the crime of Christmas
day, such talk as no friend of Raouls would
like to hear. Neither did read the Journals;
they all of them assumed Raoul's guilt as
thing of course. But before long the excite
ment caused by the murder of Meissner died
away; a new ministry, a new drama and
new domestic crime occurring one after the
other, threw the affair of the Passage de
Mazain into the shade Popular in
terest in the case was, however, revived
for time by an announcement made
in 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 adj
ministration, it was said, saw no reason for
suppressing play of unusual merit because
the writer of it CHANGED to be lying in prison
fact, as one of the theatrical journals pointed
out, would be certain to make the piece at
least pecuniary success.
Some days after the close of the inquiry
obtained permission to visit Raoul at the
house of detention. The interview was much
less painful to either of us than I had feared.
Raoul would not let me speak of the wrong
had done him-would not let me beg his for
giveness.
s'What you thought" he said, "who could
have helped thinking its 1t was I who was
to blame; should have told you the truth at
once; that I did not is the best proof to me
that must have been half-crazed at the time.
No, no! It is not you who should speak of
REFERENCES; tits I. And you did not wait till
you had heard my story-it needed only a
word from Gabrielle to make you believe in
me againw
'tAh, if you had but heard her speakr'
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
mes You will tell her thatg'
Of course promised. Raoul had said no
more than the truth. He was himself again;
calm, courageous, looking his danger in the
face with a firmness that inspired me.
SIT is dreadful fatality" he said. eff
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"
SIT shall be done," answered; s'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.
ssYou will allow me to retain our friend
Sapinaud for your defenses know no bet
ter man."
''By all means"
"And you will put your na ne to this docu-
ment, which have brought ready for sign
ingw
Raoul read the document: ~, Raoul Girard,
hereby authorize Paul Marsal to offer re-
ward of twenty thousand francs to such per.
soa as may discover the real murderer OF
Joseph Meissner."
''My dear Paul" he said; s'twenty thousand
francsi Won iest u j.