Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-09-23

tea ike y lean cat Dy NJ. GAeCulnco . SAuo.
/ say trotted, because really had some
difficulty in keeping up with the worthy
man.
He walked on and on, along the Rue
Racine, elbowing the passers-by as if his
fortune had depended on his speed.
Luckily fdcre passed us at the Place
de POdeon.
NJ. Mechinet stopped it, and opening the
door, said, "Get in, Monsieur Godeuil."
obeyed, and he took his seat beside
me after calling to the driver in an i'm
perative tone-"Rue Lecluse, 80 aux Ba-
tignolles-and be quickr'
The distance drew volley of oathS
from the driver. No matter, he gave his
horses a violent blow, and the carriage
rolled on.
"Ahl so we're going to the Batig-
dollesP" | asked, with the smile of a cour-
tier.
But NJ. Mechinet made no reply.
boubt whether he heard me.
A complete metamorphosis was taking
place in him. He did not seem exactly
agitated, but his compressed lips and the
contraction of his large, bushy eyebrows
betrayed intense preoccupation of mind.
His eyes, fixed on vacancy, seemed to be
studying the terms of some insoluble
problem.
He had drawn out his snuff-box, and
was constantly taking immense pinches,
which he kneaded between his finger and
thumb and raised to his nose, but did not
inhale.
This was a trick had noticed, and
which greatly amused me. The worthy
man, who had n horror of tobacco, was al
ways provided with a snuff-box worthy of
a stage financier.
whether pleasant or disagreeable, he
pulled it out of his pocket and began to
take snuff furiously. The box was often
empty, but his gestures remained the
same.
1 afterwards knew it was a trick of his
to conceal his impressions and divert the
attention of his questioners.
Meantime we drove on.
The fGcre assembled, not without diff
Guilty, the Rue de Clinchy, crossed the
outer boulevard, turned into the Rue de
Lecluse, and ere long stopped at some
distance from the address given.
TO go further was impossible, the street
was SO blocked by u dense crowd.
Before the house, bearing the number
80, two or three hundred persons were
standing with outstretched necks and
sparkling eyes, painting with curiosity,
and with difficulty kept back by half
dozen policemen, who vainly shouted in
their harshest tones, "Pass on, gentlemen,
pass onr'
Alighting from the carriage, we APP
preached the house, forcing our way
through the loungers with great diff
Guilty.
We had already reached the door of No.
&c. when a policeman rudely thrust us
back
"Stand back! No admittance herer'
My companion eyed him from head to
foot, and drawing himself up, said:
$50 you don't recognize me. 1 am
Mechinet, and this young man "-he
pointed to me-''is with me-"
Pardon me! Excuse me!' stammered
the man, raising his hand to his hat. 81
didn't know-walk in"
We entered.
In the vestibule stout woman, evil
IDENTIFY the concierge, redder than peony,
was talking and gesticulating amid a
group of dodgers.
where is it2'' NJ. Mechinet asked
roughly.
ION the third floor, my dear monsieur"
she answered; third floor, right-hand
doori Oh Lord, what misfortune! Ina
house like oursl Such a good man!''
I heard no more. NJ. Mechinet had
darted up the stairs, and followed, my
heart beating as if it would stifie me.
The right-hand door on the third floor
stood open.
We entered, crossed an antechamber,
dining-room, drawing-room, and at last
reached bed-chamber.
If 1 could live thousand years should
never forget the spectacle that met my
eyes. AS write, after so many years, 1
can see the smallest details.
Two men were leaning on the mantel-
piece opposite the door; commissary of
police, with his scarf round his waist, and
an examining magistrate.
On the right, seated at a table, a young
man, the clerk, was writing.
In the centre of the room, on the floor,
amid pool of black, coagulated blood,
lay the body of an old man with white
hair. He was stretched on his back, with
his arms extended. Terrified, 1 stood
rooted to the threshold, so near fainting,
that to save myself from falling 1 was
obliged to lean against the door.
My profession had familiarized me
with death; had long since conquered
the terrors of the hospital, but this was
the first time found myself confronted
with crime. For it was evident that an
abominable crime had been committed.
| Ny hSlSAOoTs less lIllprSSSlOndU1c Cudu
I, had entered with firm step.
"Oh! it's you, Mechinet." said the com
missary of police. 'I'm very sorry tc
have troubled YOU
"WhY?"
because we sha'n't need your wits
We know the criminal. have given my
orders, and he must be already arrested.
| Strange! From NJ. Mechinet's gesture
one would have supposed this assurance
annoyed him. He drew out his snuff
boXs took two or three of his imaginary
pinches, and said:
"Ah! the criminal is known
The examining magistrate answered:
"And known in a very certain and pos
tive fashion; yes, Monsieur Mechinet
The crime having been committed, tn,
assassin fed, believing that his victim
had expired. He was mistaken. Provi
dence watched the deed. The unfortunat,
man still breathed. Summoning all hi
strength, he dipped one of his fingers il
&An Al.L