The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-10-12
CHATTER VIII.


TO call myself to account for it a hundred
times since-was experience, familiarity
with the profession, and especially
| thorough knowledge of the modes of the
action of the police.
! / dimly felt that this examination had
! been badly, or rather specifically con
Quoted, but l should have been troubled
to tell why, and especially TO say what
/ ought to have been done.
| l was none the less deeply interested in
Monistroi.
| 1t seemed as If his cause was my own.
| And this was very natural-my youthful
vanity was aroused. Was il not a remark
| of mine that had raised the first doubts
in regard to the unfortunate mans guilt3
| q must prove his innocence" +" said TO
| myself.
| Unfortunately, the arguments carried
| on during the evening had disturbed my
mind so much that l no longer knew on
what fact TO erect my structure. As al
| ways happens when we fx our minds too
long on the solution of a problem, my
ideas became as confused as skein in the
hands of a child. no longer saw clearly,
every hing was chaos.
| Leaning back in my arm chair, was
still racking my brains, when NJ. Mechi-
net, faithful to the promise made the
evening before, came for me.
| "Come, Gomez he said, shaking me
rudely, for / had not heard him enter,
'let's be off,
| 'I'm ready said, rising.
| We hastily went downstairs, and then
| noticed that my worthy neighbor was
dressed with more care than usual.
He had succeeded in giving himself
that easy, well-to-do air, which is SO
particularly attractive to the Partisan
shopkeeper.
His good spirits were those of man
sure of himself, who is advancing TO GER
tain victory.
We were soon in the street, and while
we were on our way
"Well,' he asked, what do you think
of my wife,. / pass for a sharp fellow at
the prefecture; and yet l consult her.
Moliere consulted his servant-and I've
often profted by her advice. She has one
weakness: to her there are no clumsy
crimes, and her Imagination lends all
villains the power of diabolical combina-
tions. But as L have precisely the oppo-
site failing, and am perhaps little too
{ positive, it's rare that the truth does not
appear during our consultations"
"What!' j cried, 'you think you have
penetrated the mystery of the Monistrol
affair:''
He stopped short, drew his snufT-box
out of his pocket, took three or four of
his imaginary pinches and replied:
AT least have the means of penetrat-
ing it"
Meantime we had reached the top of
the Rue Vivienne, not far from Monis-
trolls shop.
PAY attention." said ". Mechinet;
follow me, and whatever happens, let
! nothing surprise you"
He did well TO warn me, or I should
have been greatly astonished to see him
abruptly enter an umbrella shop.
Stiff and grave as an Englishman, he
turned over the whole stock, found moth
ing to suit him, and at last asked whether
an umbrella could be made for him like
pattern which he would furnish.
He Was told that it would be the easiest
thing in the world, and went out saying
he would come back the next morning.
The half-hour spent in the shop had
certainly not been lost. While examin-
ing the umbrellas placed before him, he
had had sufficient art TO draw from the
shopkeepers all that they knew of NJ. and
Mime. Monistrol.
1t was an easy matter, after all, for the
affair OF the little old man of the Batig-
nolIes," and the arrest of the dealer in
imitation jewelry. had caused great ex-
element throughout the neighbour ood
and was the universal subject OF conver-
sation.
: There" said he, when we were out
g side, that's the way to obtain exact in
formation When people know with
: whom they are dealing they strike atti-
10 tudes, make stilted speeches, and then
} goodbye TO the TRUTH
n Mechinet repeated this farce in
? seven or eight shops IN the neghbor-
? hood, and even spent twenty francs in
5 one, whose owner was quiet aud not dis
posed to talk.
: But after two hours OF this strange oc-
3 cupation. which greatly amused me, we
= were thoroughly posted in regard 10 pub
{ thought of M. and Nine Moni stroll in the
, neighborhoOd where they had lived since
, their marriage-that is, four years
| There Was but one opinion about the
: husband. Ecu
g He was said to be the best and kindest
g of men, ohliging, honest, intelligent and
! industrious II he had not succeeded in
/ his business, it was because fortune does
8 not always favor those who are most de
! serving. He had made the mistake OF
8 hiring shop devoted TO bankruptcy
four merchants had been ruined in IL
' within fifteen years
{ He worshiped his wife, everybody knew
. and said, but this great love had never
e passed proper limits, never exposed him
4 60 ridicule.
9 No one could believe in his guilt. 80
e His arrest, it was said, must be a mis-
= take on the part Of the police.
s Opinions were divided in regard K
Nine. Monistrol.
). Some thought her too fine for her DO
Z sition, others said that fashionable cos
d tune was one OF the necessities of he
business
K 1t was generally believed that she sin
Q cerely loved her husband, and she wa
: universally praised for her prudence,
l. prudence the more meritorious becaus
she was remarkably beautiful and be
"a sieged by numerous admirers. But SIN
" had never given occasion for gossip no
the slightest breath of suspicion ha,
y suilied her immaculate character
? This, perceived, greatly perplexed NJ
Mechinet
?, Strange" said he, mot a tale, not
slsnder, not calumny. This isn't wha
W Caroline supposed. According to he
idea, we ought TO find one of those shor
keepers who are always behind the cour
J. ter, display their beauty more than thei
wares, and consign the husbands bliu
n fool, or careless toad-eater-to the bach
IS shop And she is nothing of the sortr'
made no reply, being no less puzzle
w than my neighbcr.
We were a long way from the testimon
ID OF the concierge in the Rue Lecluse S
e. greatly does the point of sight vary a,
cording TO the neighborhood. What
e, considered horrible coquetry in the Batis
u nolles is only business necessity in th
Rue Nivienne.
u But we had already spent too muc