Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-09

London within forty-eight hours after
his description has been telegraphed.
Even America is no longer refuge.
You remained prudentiy and wisely.
saying 10 yourself. L will manage to
avoid suspicion; and. even IL I am
found out, / shall be free again after
three or five years seclusion, with a
large fortune TO enjoy Many peo-
pie would sacrifice i've years of their
lives for $4,000 francs"
but. monsieur. had I calculated n
the manner YOU describe. should not
have been content with 100000 francs:
l should have waited for an opportu-
nifty 10 steal half a million. 1 often
have that sum in charge"
"Oh! it is not always convenient to
wait"
Prosper was buried in deep thought
for some minutes.
Monsieur" be finally said, there
is one detail / forgot TO mention be-
fore, IL may be OF Importance"
Explain. if you please"
"The Office messenger whom L sent
TO the Bank of France for the money
must have seen me tie up the bundle.
and put it away in the safe. At any
rate, he knows that / left the bank
before he did"
Very well; the man shall be exam
ined. Now you can return to your
cell; and once more ] advise you to
consider the consequences OF your
persistent denial"
NJ. Pstrigent thus abruptly dis
missed Prosper because he wished to
Immediately act upon this last piece
OF information.
"Sigault," said he. as soon as Pros
per had left the room, sis not this
Antonin the man who was excused
from testifying because he sent a doc.
tors certificate declaring him too III
to APPEAR"
1T is, monsieur"
where does he live?"
"Fanferlot SAYS he was so IN that
he was taken 10 the hospital-the d.
bois hospital"
Very well. ] am going 20 examine
him to-day, this very hour. Take
YOU pen and paper. and send for
carriage"
It was some distance from the Pa
lais de Justice 20 the Dubois hospital:
but the cabman, urged by the promise
of a large fee. made his sorry fades
fly as if they we're blooded horses.
Would Antonin be able TO answer
any questions2
The physician in charge Of the hos
pital said. that. although the man suf-
fered horribly from broken knee.
his mind was perfectly clear.
| THAT being the case. monsieur
said the judge. IL wish TO examine
him. ard desire that no one be ad-
mittcd while he makes his deposi-
ton
"Oh! YOU viii not be intruded upon.
monsieur; his room contains four
beds, but they are just now unoccu-
pied"
When Antonin saw the Judge enter.
followed by a little weazen man in
black, with a portfolio under his arm.
he at once knew what he had come
for
All he said. monsieur comes TO
see me about Monsieur Bertomy's
case2'
Precisely"
NJ. Patrigeut remained standing by
Il tlNt SICK Nti4s NUINf -AEAull arranged
his papers ON little table.
In answer 20 the usual questions
the messenger swore that he was
named Antonio Poche. was 80 year.
old, born az Cadaujac (Gironde), anil
was unmarried.
| "Now," said the judge, are you
well enough TO clearly answer any
questions I may put?"
/ Certainly. monsieur"
| did YOU, ON the 25th OF February,
go Go the Bank of France for the $780,
BOO francs that were stolen?'
| Yes. monsieur"
AT what hour did you return with
the money!"
1T must have been FIVE o'clock
when I got back"
DO YOU remember what Monsieur
Bertomy did when YOU handed him
the notes2 Now, do not be in a hur.
~; think before YOU answer"
Let me see; first he counted the
aotes, and made them into four pack
ages; then he put them in the safe.
and then-it seems 10 me-and then
he locked the safe; and. yet, / am not
mistaken. he went OUT"
He uttered these last words so
quickly. that, forgetting his knee. he
half started up; but, with cry Of
pain, sunk back in bed.
Are YOU sure of what you say2'
asked the Judge
NJ. Patrigent's solemn tone seemed
10 brighten Antonin.
'Sure?" he replied, with marked
hesitation, Il would bet my head on
II, yet / am not surei"
1t was impossible for him 10 be
more decided in his answers. He had
been frightened. DE already mag
ined himself in difficulty, and for a
trifle he would have detracted every
thing.
But the effect was already pro
duced; and when they retired NJ. Pa
Urgent said TO Sigault:
This is very important piece OF
evidence"
TO BE CONTINUED.
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