The Halifax Comet. — 1894-02-17 (Halifax, West Yorkshire, England)

THE COMET.  "According to you, that was at nine o'clock ?" "About nine."  "Your porter, who has been examined since your arrest, asserts that he did not see you until towards ten o'clock."  "Nine, half-past, or ten would be pretty much the same to a porter, who is asleep half his time in his lodge." "And why did you go home, contrary to your usual habit, at that hour on that particular evening ?" "For a very simple reason. I had on a light overcoat and, as the evening had become chilly, I went to get a heavier one." "Did you not put aside your light overcoat because it had on it certain stains which might compromise you ?" "Stains !" said Savari, with great unconcern. "What stains ?"  "Two or three stains of blood. How do you account for them ?"  "I do not account for them. I am positive they do not exist," replied Savari, firmly.  M Gourbet had hoped that the prisoner, if he were guilty, would betray himself in face of this attack, and that he would attempt to give some sort of explanation with regard to these blood stains, accounting for them by his nose having been bleeding, or his hand cut, as murderers generally do under similar circumstances. Any such explanation would have damaged Albert Savari, and possibly have imlaicated him, seeing that, in spite of every effort, not a single trace of blood, such as M. Gourbet hinted at, could be discovered on the overcoat in question. So he had to put up with the failure of this new stratagem, either from the fact that Savari was innocent, as he maintained he WB.l, or by reason of the subtlety and coolness which he possessed in no small degree. But, fearing that his ruse might be seen through, M. Gourbet was unwilling to abandon with too great haste the line of questioning he had adopted, so he told Savari 'that the coat would be submitted to the analysis of able chemists. This had no effect, either, on the prisoner, who simply turned towards the magistrate, as an intimation that he awaited the further progress of the examination. ' M. Gourbet rose and paced to and fro, whilst Savari, who had also risen, leaned with his back against the mantel-piece, attentively studying the always impassable registrar. Suddenly M. Gourbet, remembering the presence of Julia Vidal, was anxious to know how she fared, and approached the screen. A look, unseen by all, sufficed to satisfy his curiosity. Julia, motionless ma statue, awaited in silence the conclusion of the examination. Her death-like pallor struck the magistrate, and recalled him to gravity. M. Gourbet returned to his place at the desk, and, entering on a new train of thought, said —" You knew Maurice Vidal ?" " I did."  "For how long?" "About three years." "Under what circumstances did you know him?"  "One of our mutual friends, M. de Montoux, to whota I one day expressed my wish to speculate on the Bourse, suggested an introduction to M. Vidal. The latter gave me a very kind reception, and consented to execute my commissions."  "Without asking for any guarantee or security?" "My word was sufficient, more especially as my commissions were on a very small seile, my differences on settling-day not exceeding one or two thousand francs." "Such was not always the case, for it was not long before you lost a commie -able sum." "That Do. A rumour which cb;mb td my e'afs induced nm on'e day to &Tart  —a beautifully fpifiEiltixi and e4guiaitels; viotred goid bociddh? If o----7