The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-03-14

CHAPTER III-Continued.

CHAPTER llI-COnt1nued.
In the evening when the jailer
brought him his supper he found him
lying on his pallet, with his face buried
in the pillow, weeping bitter tears.
He was not hungry. Now that he was
alone, he fed upon his own bitter
thoughts. He sank from a state Of
frenzy into one of Supplying despair.
The night was long and terrible, and
for the first time he had nothing to
count the hours by as they slowly
dragged on but the measured tread of
the patrol who came to relieve the
sentinels. He suffered agony. In the
morning he dropped into a sleep, from
which he was awakened by the rough
voice of the jailer.
"Come, monsieur" he said, "to the
judge of instruction"
LET us CO." said Prosper, without
stopping to repair his disordered toilet.
During the passage the jailer said,
"You are very fortunate in having
your case brought before an honest
man."
The jailer was right. Endowed with
remarkable penetration, firm, unbiased,
equally free from false pity and ex-
cessive severity, M. Patrigent possess
ed in an eminent degree all the quail.
ties necessary for the delicate and diff
ficult Office of judge of instruction.
Prosper was escorted along a corri-
dor, through room full of policemen,
down flight of steps, across a kind of
cellar and then up a steep staircase
which seemed to have no end. Finally
he reached long, narrow gallery, upon
which opened many doors bearing Diff
ferent numbers. Summoning all his
courage, he placed his hand on the
doorknob and was about to enter when
the jailer stopped him.
Don't be in such haste" he said.
"Sit down here, and when your turn
comes you will be called"
The wretched man obeyed, and his
keeper took seat beside him.
Presently a little old man dressed in
black, wearing the insignia of his Of
flee, a steel chain, cried out:
prosper Bertomyw
Prosper arose and, without knowing
how, found himself in the office of the
judge Of instruction.
NJ. Patrigent's homely face, with its
irregular outline and short red whis-
kers, lit up by pair of bright, intelli-
gent eyes and a kindly expression, was
calculated to impress one favorably at
first sight.
"Well," he said abruptly, "you are
accused Of having robbed NJ. Fauvel
of 100000 francs. What have you to
answerT"
"That I am innocent, monsieur; I
swear that am innocent"
81 hope you are" said M. Patrigent,
"and you may count upon me to assist
you to the extent of my ability in prov
ing your innocence. Have you any
thing to say in your defense"
"Ah, monsieur, what can I say when
I cannot understand this dreadful bust
ness myself? I can only refer you to
my past life"
The judge interrupted him with an
impatient gesture.
"Let us be specific. The robbery
was committed under circumstances
that prevent suspicion from falling
upon any one but NJ. Fauvel and your
self. Do you suspect any one else?'
mo, monsieur"
"You declare yourself to be innocent;
therefore the guilty party must be NJ.
Fauvel"
Prosper did not answer.
"Have you" persisted the judge,
ANY cause for believing that M. Fau-
vel robbed himself? If you have, say
So"
The prisoner preserved a rigid ST.
lence.
81 see, monsieur" said the Judge,
that you need time for reflection.
Listen to the reading of your examina-
ton, and after signing it you will re-
turn to prison."
The unhappy man was overcome
The last ray of hope was gone. He
signed the paper without looking at it.
He tottered as he left the judges Of
flee so that the keeper was forced to
support him.
If Prosper had remained an hour Ion
ger in the gallery, he would have seen
the same bailiff who had called him
come out Of the judges Office and cry
out:
Number threev'
Witness No. 3, who was awaiting his
turn and answered the call, was NJ.
Fauvel.
Although he had very slightly ex-
amined Prosper, the judge was now
scrupulously attentive and particular
in having every question answered.
"Did you ever suspect your cashier
of being dishonest?" he asked.
Certainly not. Yet there were a
thousand reasons which should have
made me distrustful."
''What reasons"
an. Bertomy gambled. have known
Of his spending whole nights at the
gaming table and losing immense sums
Of money. He was intimate with q
bad set. Once he was mixed up with
one of my clients, NJ. de Clameran, In
O. scandalous gambling affair.""
"You must confess, monsieur" inter-
rupted the judge. ''that you were very
imprudent, not to say culpable, to have
intrusted your safe to such a man."
"Ah, monsieur, Prosper was not al
ways thus. Until the past year he was
a model of goodness. He was received
into my house as one Of my family.