Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-09-26
TRACED IN BLOOD,
The Little Old Man Of the BatisnOllCA

1t seemed as j. his cause was my own.
And this was very natural-my youthful
vanity was aroused. Was it not q remark
of mine that had raised the first doubts
in regard to the unfortunate mans guilty
Unjust prove his innocence" said to
myself.
Unfortunately, the arguments carried
on during the evening had disturbed my
mind so much that no longer knew on
what fact to erect my structure. AS al
WAYS happens when we fix our minds too
long on the solution of II problem, my
ideas became as confused as skein in the
hands of a child. Ino longer saw clearly,
everything 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, come" he said, shaking me
rudely, for ] had not heard him enter,
"let's be off,"
"I'm ready" l 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, ''whGt 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 profited 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 have precisely the oppo
site failing, and am perhaps little too
positive, it's rare that the truth does not
appear during our consultations"
"WhatH' l cried, You think you have
penetrated the myEtery of the Monistrol
affairp'
He stopped short, drew his snuff-box
ont 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 NJ. Mechinet;
follow me, and whatever happens, let
nothing surprise you"
He did we'll to warn me, or l should
nave DCen dSlouiSI!Sl u See MN
abruptly enter an umbrella shop.
Stiff and grave AS an Eaglshman, 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 a
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
| Nine Monistroi.
1t was an easy matter, after all, for the
! affair of the "little old man of the Batig-
nolles," and the arrest of the dealer in
imitation jewelry, had caused great ex-
element throughout the neighborhood
| and was the universal subject of CONVEX
| Sation.
"There," said he, when we were oHt-
side, "that $ the way to obtain exact in.
! formation. When people know with
whom thEy are dealing they strike atti-
tudes, make stiited SIP Genes, and then
| goodbye to the truth"
NJ. Mechinet repeated this farce in
seven or eight shops in the neighbor-
hood, and even spent twenty francs i'll
! one, whose owner was quiet and not dis
posed to talk.
But after two hours of this strange or-
cupation, which greatly amused me, we
were thoroughly posted in regard to pub
lie opinion. We knew precisely what was
thought of NJ. and Nine. Monistrol i'll the
neighborhood where they had lived since
their marriage-that is, four years.
There was but one opinion about the
husband.
He was said to be the best and kindest
of men, obliging, honest, intelligent and
industrious. If he had not succeeded in
his business, it was because fortune does
not always favor those who are most de-
serving. He had made the mistake OF
hiring a shop devoted to bankruptcy
four merchants had been ruined in it
within fifteen years.
He worshiped his wife, everybody knew
and said, but this great love had never
passed proper limits, never exposed him
to ridicule.
No one could believe in his guilt.
His arrest, it was said, must be a mis-
take ON the part of the police.
Opinions were divided in regard to
Nine. Monistrol.
Some thought her too fine for her pc
sition, others said that fashionable cos
tune was one of the necessities of hel
business.
1t was generally believed that she sin
cerely loved her husband, and she was
universally praised for her prudence, &
prudence the more meritorious becaus,
she was remarkably beautiful and be
sieged by numerous admirers. But she
had never given occasion for gossip, moi
the slightest breath of suspicion haC
i sullied her immaculate character.
This, perceived, greatly perplexed NJ
Mechinet.
Strange" said he, mot a tale, not ,
SANDER, not a calumny. This isn's wha
Caroline supposed. According tn he
idea, we ought to find one of those shop
keepers who are always behind the coun
ter, display their beauty more than thCi
wares, and consign the husband~-a bin
fool, or careless toad eater-to the back
shop. And she is nothing of the sortr'
made no reply, being no less puzzleC
than my neighbor.
We were long way from the testimon,
of the concierge in the Rue Lecluse, s,
greatly does the point of sight vary &C
cording to the neighborhood. What i
l. II.