Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-09-26
CHAPTER TX.

This was done in four strides.
At the sound of the opening door lit
tie servant, fifteen or sixteen years old,
shabbily dressed and with tangled hair,
came out of the back shop.
"What can do for you, gentlemen"
she asked.
els Madame Monistrol in2"
Eyes, gentlemen, and I'll tell her you
are here, because, you see"
NJ Mechinet did not give her time to
finish.
With a somewhat rude movement, /
confess, he thrust her out of his way and
entered the back shop, saying:
Very we'll; since she is in Pm going to
speak to her."
followed at my worthy neighbours
heels, sure that we should not go away
without having the clue to the enigma.
The back shop was a gloomy apart
ment, which served for dining, drawing
and sleeping room.
1t was in disorder, and had the in
congruous appearance often seen in the
homes of the poor people who try to seem
rich. At one end was a bed with blue
silk curtains and pillow cases trimmed
with lace, and before the mantel-piece
was a table loaded with the remains of
by no means simple breakfast
A fair-haired young woman sat, or
rather reclined in large armchair, hold
ing in her hand sheet of stamped paper.
This was Nine Monistrol.
Certainly when her neighbors had told
us of her beauty, their description fell far
short of the reality. 1 was actually
dazzled.
Only one circumstance excited my dis
approval: she was attired in deep mourn
ing, a crepe dress, cut slightly low in the
neck, which was marvelously becoming
This showed too much presence of mind
for great sorrow. 1t seemed like an
actress dressing herself in advance for
the part she is to play.
She started like timid roe at our
entrance, andin a voice apparently choked
with tears, askedI
"What do You want, gentlemenr'
NJ. Mechinet had noticed what had
remarked.
Madame" he answered harshly, 81
am sent here in the service of the law;
am detective"
At this statement she sank back in the
armchair with moan that would have
softened tiger.
Then suddenly, in a frenzy OF excite
ment, with sparkling eyes and quivering
lips, she exclaimed:
Have you come to arrest me? You arc
/
shall join the honest man you arrested
yesterday. Whatever his fate may be,
wish to share it. He is as innocent as l
ammo matter. If he must be a victim
to an error of human justice it will be
last Joy to die with him."
She was interrupted by a low growl,
| which proceeded from one of the corners
of the shop.
Hooked in the direction of the sound
and saw black dog. with bristling hair
and blood-shot eyes, showing his teeth,
| Just ready to spring at us.
Down, Plutor' said Nine. Monistrol,
ellie down; these gentlemen will do me no
harm"
Slowly, still fixing its eyes fercely upon
| us, the animal retreated under the bed.
"You are right in saying that we will
| do you no harm, Madame" said NJ.
Mechinet, 1--WE did not come to arrest
| you"
| She did not seem to hear,
'tThis very morning." she continued,
"I received this paper, which commands
me to go at O'Clock to the Palais de jus
tice, to the Office of the examining magis-
trate. What do they want of me2 Oh,
HeaVeni what do they want of meP"
ITO obtain information, which, 1 hope,
will prove your husbands innocence. So
don't look upon me as an enemy, Mad
anne. wish to ascertain the truth"
He took up his snuff box, hastily thrust
his fingers into it, and in solemn tone
which did not recognize, continued:
at is for you to decide, Madame, what
answer you will make to the questions
shall have the honor of addressing to you.
Will you reply frankly?"
She fixed her large blue eyes, wet with
tears, upon my worthy neighbor, and said
in a tone of sorrowful resignation,
Question me, sirS"
For the third time, repeat, was ut
terly inexperienced. And yet the man,
ner in which NJ. Mechinet had commenced
this examination disturbed me.
He was betraying his perplexities in ad.
vance, it seemed to me, and instead oil
pursuing a fixed object, dealt his blows
hap-hazard.
All, if he would have let me speak, All
If I had daredI
NJ. Mechinet, with an impenetrable
face, was seated opposite to Nine. Monis
troll.
"You must know, Madame, >" he began
"that night before last, at eleven o'clock
Monsieur Pigoreau or Antenor, your hus
bands uncle, was murdered"
"Alasr'
"Where was Monsieur Monistrol al
that hourf"
"Oh, heavens! it is a fatality"
NJ. Mechinet's face remained immov
able.
u ask you, Madame" he persisted
"where your husband spent the evening o.
the day before yesterday"
1t was some time before the young wife
replied; her sobs seemed to be choking
her. At last, controlling herself, SHE
moaned:
"My husband spent the evening out o.
the house,
do you know where he vast"
"Oh, yesl One of our workmen, wh'
lives at Montrouge, had promised to bring
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