Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-09-24

81 need certain informetion," he
began, land am going to q,.estion you.
In your own interest. ] advise you to
answer without evasion. In the first
place, what il the name OF the poor old
man who has l., II murderer"
"His name was Pigoreau, monsieur,
but he was h, 81 known by che name Of
Antenor, which he had formerly borne
because it was better suited TO his busi-
ness"
Has he lived in this house iong?"
"For eight years.
"Where did he live before"
elm the Rue Richelieu, where he had
his shop-for he WAS IA hairtiresser, and
made his fortune in the business
$50 he was considered rich n'ani''
"I've heard his niece say he hadn't less
than a million"
This matter could be easily decided, .
since an inventory had been made of the
old mans papers.
"Now," continued NJ. Mechinet What
sort of a man was this Monsieur Pigoreau
or Antenori"
"Oh the best of men, monsieur" replied
the concierge. "He was very eccentric
and as misery as possible, but not a bit
proud. And SO conical, tool One could
have listened to him all night when he
was in the right mood. He knew somany
stories. Just think! an old hairdresser,
who, as he said, had arranged the hair Of
the handsomest women in Paris"
"How did he liver"
Like everybody else. Like everybody
who has an income, 1 mean, aud yet is
careful Of money"
"Can you give me any PARTICULARS"
ooh, yes, seeing that 1 had charge of
his housekeeping. And it gave me very
little trouble, for he did almost every
thing-sweeping, busting and polishing
himself. 1t was his hobby. Then every
day of his life, when the clock struck
twelve, ] took him a cup of chocolate.
He drank it, swallowed a glass of water
directly after, and thai was his breakfast.
Then he dressed, and this occupied nearly
two hours, for he was more coquettish
and particular about his person than a
bride. AS soon as he was dressed he went
out to walk. At six o'clock he dined at a
clearinghouse kept by the Demoiselles
Comet, Rue de la PaiX. After dinner he
went to the Cafe GItsrbois TO drink Lis
coffee, and at eleven o'clock came home
and went to bed. The poor old man had
one fault. He had too much regard for
the fair sex. often said to him, Aren't
you ashamed of yourself at your age?'
But nobody is perfect, and we can under
stand this in an old perfumer, who had a
great many favors in his life."
A smile fitted over the face of the stout
concierge, but nothing could make II,
Mechinet unbend.
Did Monsieur Pigoreau receive many
visitors?" he asked
VERY few. rarely saw any one come
to see him except his nephew, Monsieur
Monistrol, who dined with him every
Sunday at Pere Lathuile's."
"An0 on what fRrmo XrprA ha Innlo
and nephewf"
"They were like hand and glove"
did they never have any disputes?'
:tNever, except that they We're always
squabbling about Madame Clara"
"Who is this Madame Clara!''
Monsieur MoHistrol's wife, n maUnifi-
cent creature. Monsieur Antenor couldn't
bear her, He said his nephew loved her
too much, that she led him by the nose
and made him see everything as she
wished. He declared that she didn't love
her husband, that she felt above her bust
ness, and would end by doing something
foolish. Madame Clara and her uncle
were at loggerheads last year. She wanted
the old man to lend Monsieur Monistrola
hundred thousand francs to buy the stock
of a jeweler in the Palais Royal. But he
refused, declaring that they might do
what they chose with his fortune after
his death, but until then, having made it
he meant to keep it and enjoy it."
1 thought NJ. Mechinet was going to
dwell upon this circumstance, which
seemed to me very important. No; I
vainly made signs; he continues:
81 have still to learn by whom the crime
was discoYered.
by me, monsieur, by mel" walled the
concierge "Oh, it is terrible! Imaginei
me, when the clock struck twelve to-day
coming upstairs as usual to give Pere
Antenor his chocolate. As l attend to
the housekeeping, have a key to the
door. l open it, I enter, and what do I
see? Oh, merciful heavenP' and she began
to utter piercing shrieks.
''rhis grief shows your kind heart,
madame" said NJ. Mechinet, gravely.
"Only, as am in a hurry, try to control
it. What did you think when you saw
your ledger murdereds"
II said to whoever cared to hear, it's
his nephew, the wretch. who dealt the
blow to secure the Inheritance
"What gave you this certainty To &C.
Cuse man of so great a crime is to thrust
him upon the scaffold."
May, Monsieur, who else could it bel
Monsieur Monistrol came to see his uncle
| yesterday evening, and when he went out
twas nearly midnight, Resides, though he
always speaks to me he said nothing when
he came or went away. And from that mo.
ment till the one when discovered every
thing, no one, am sure, went up to Mon
| sieur Antenor's ROOM"
confess that this testimony bewildered
me.
Still tyro, 1 should not have thought
of pursuing the examination. Fortu.
nately NJ. Mechinet's experience was
| o1nl ho g.
the difficult art OF drawing the whole
truth from witnesses.
$50, madame" he continued, ::you are
certain that Monistrol came here yester
day EVENING""
Certain"
'You saw him distinctly recognized
hima"
"Oh, excuse me; l didn't see his face.
He passed very quickly, trying to hide
himself, like the wretch he is, and the
corridor is dimly lighted"
II