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Before leaving the car, and after walking through the other compartments, M. Floçon made an especially strict search of the corner where the porter had his own small chair, his only resting-place, indeed, throughout the journey. He had not forgotten the attendant's condition when first examined, and he had even then been nearly satisfied that the man had been hocussed, narcotized, drugged.
The cabinet saw no reason for the suspension of the labors of the Chamber. The Crown was at that moment exercising its prerogative, and it must be respected. So long as his cabinet was on those benches, the Chamber need not suspend its labors." "What was the vote on the question to postpone consideration of the impeachment?" asked Flocon.
That is my view of the lady." M. Floçon shook his head. Prepossessions with him were tenacious, and he had made up his mind about the Countess's guilt. "When you again interrogate her, M. le Juge, by the light of your present knowledge, I believe you will think otherwise.
So M. Floçon, by fair process of reasoning, reached a point which incriminated one woman, the only woman possible, and that was the titled, high-bred lady who called herself the Contessa di Castagneto. This conclusion gave a definite direction to further search.
"What thoughtful selfishness!" exclaimed Flocon; "and at a moment, too, when he had but just escaped an awful death, and all around him flowed the blood and lay scattered the lacerated limbs of his faithful servants, either dead or dying with groans and shrieks of most agonizing torture, and all because of himself; how disgraceful that, at such a terrible moment, his first thought should have been of the few more francs his trembling hand was striving to tear from a people by whom he had already been made the richest man in Europe, and which the occurrence of this dreadful event might serve to win for him."
Before the English General was dismissed, he asked whether he was likely to be detained. "For the present, yes," replied M. Floçon, briefly. He did not care to be asked questions. That, under the circumstances, was his business. "Because I should like to communicate with the British Embassy." "You are known there?" asked the detective, not choosing to believe the story at first.
When the Judge had brought down the interrogation of the Countess to the production of the small glass bottle, he paused, and with a long-drawn "Ah!" of satisfaction, looked round at his colleagues. Both M. Floçon and the Commissary nodded their heads approvingly, plainly sharing his triumph. Then they all put their heads together in close, whispered conference.
Here he found himself a good deal below the level of the car. These sleepers have no foot-boards like ordinary carriages; access to them is gained from a platform by the steps at each end. This meant stooping and giving a back, on which little M. Floçon climbed nimbly, and so was raised to the necessary height. A close scrutiny revealed nothing unusual.
Ledru Rollin and Louis Blanc assented. "And what next?" pursued Flocon. "After considerable confusion," continued Lamartine, "M. Odillon Barrot rose and demanded, in consequence of the situation of the cabinet, a postponement of the proposition for its impeachment, fixed for to-morrow." "Ah! And what said the Chamber?" asked Flocon.
"Easily: I had taken a soporific. I always do, on a journey. I am obliged to keep something, sulphonal or chloral, by me, on purpose." "Then this, madame, is yours?" And the Judge, with an air of undisguised triumph, produced the small glass vial which M. Floçon had picked up in the sleeping-car near the conductor's seat. The Countess, with a quick gesture, put out her hand to take it.
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