Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-12-27
CHAPTER V.


CHAPTER V.
The village Of Villeneuve was within
the jurisdiction of the tribunal of the
department of the Seine The Judge Of
instruction Of this department was man
of unusual ability. In addition to pos
sessing profound knowledge of the law,
NJ. Joseph Bertrand was a deep and
interested student Of human nature. OF
all the cases which during his term of
Office had come before him, none, per-
haps, had excited such widespread atten-
tion as this mysterious murder of the
unfortunate Nine. Roupell. The horr-
Bile nature of the crime, the heartlessness
of the assassin, and the age and rank
of his victim, all tended to invest the
case with unusual interest.
At ten o'clock precisely NJ Bertrand
took his seat. The diagram which La
blanche, the prefect of police, had pre-
pared, the notes of the mayors examina-
lay on the desk before him. There too,
lay the pistol found on the floor of Nine.
Roupells chamber. In an adjoining
chamber were gathered the witnesses who
were prepared to testify in the case.
You may bring in the prisoner" said
NJ. Bertrand, when all was in readiness;
and Charles Van Lith was led in.
The judge of instruction eyed him keen
ly. His face was of a deathly pallor;
his eyes were hollow and sunken. Alto
gether, he appeared to disadvantage, and
Ia ~, L
youth, however, and the fearless manner
in which he glanced around him, did not
fail to impress NJ. Bertrand favorably.
Notwithstanding his official habit of stern
ness, the judge of instruction was pos
sessed of many humane qualities. 1t was
with voice, therefore, rather mild and
encouraging than harsh, that he address,
ed the young man before him.
81 wish, monsieur" he said. ito afford
you every opportunity of clearing your
self. Now state, as briefly as possible,
for there are many witnesses to be exam
ined, how you came to be in the chateau
Villeneuve last night. l see by the report
of the prefect that you have refused to
explain that point. Perhaps you had
good reasons for your silence then; but
you can have none now, here before me-
How did you happen to be in the chateau,
I repeat, at the time this crime was COM
mitted, and even in Madame Roupell's
chamber"
A fearful struggle was taking place in
the breast of the American. To state
the true reason of his presence In the
chamber would be to forever compromise
Harriet Weldon, and yet 1t was the only
course which could possibly clear him.
The same sense of honor, however, which
had bound him to silence when interro-
gated by the prefect of police operated
to close his lips before the judge of in
struction. So, instead Of fatty refusing
to give the desired information, he sought
to modify the bad effect of his refusal by
saying:
81 cannot answer the question-as yet,
monsieur. 1t may appear an easy one to
which to reply; but l ask you to believe
that at present there is an insurmount-
able obstacle to my doing so."
An expression of vexation seemed to
pass over the face of the Judge. He had
been favorably predisposed toward the
prisoner, and would have liked to see him
go free.
81 warn you that your persistent re-
fusal to answer is liable to be construed
as evidence Of guilt. Would the explana-
tion you decline to give involve the party
guilty of the crime-perhaps some friend
of yours whom you desire to screen?"
Van Lith hesitated but moment, and
then, to the evident surprise of NJ. Ber-
trand, replied:
1T would not"
would the explanation you refuse to
give clear you?"
Again, to NJ. Bertrand's growing as
tonishment, the young American replied
II don't think it would"
(To be continued.)