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Updated: May 8, 2025
There seemed to be nothing alive in her but her eyes, which were lighted up with unusual brilliancy. "Ah! I do not know, sir," she replied in a feeble voice. "How can I collect my thoughts after such terrible shocks?" "Still you questioned Cocoleu." "Who would not have done so, when the truth was at stake?" "And you were not surprised at the name he mentioned?" "You must have seen, sir."
Since his return from Boiscoran, he had kept close in his house; and he had just made up his mind not to leave the house that day, when some one rang his bell furiously. A moment later Dr. Seignebos fell into the room like a bombshell. "I know what brings you, doctor," said M. Daubigeon. "You come about that order I have given concerning Cocoleu." "Yes, indeed, sir! That order is an insult."
Hence all these good people, whom the mayor's words had deeply excited, were eager to find out the only man who knew anything about this calamity, Cocoleu. He was well known among them, and for many years.
"Because the wood-merchant at Brechy is a thief, and everybody knows that master has kicked him out of the house some three years ago. We sell all our wood at Sauveterre." M. Folgat had taken out a note-book, and wrote down some of Anthony's statements, preparing thus the outline of his defence. This being done, he commenced again, "Now we come to Cocoleu." "Ah the wretch!" cried Anthony.
He bent over, and drew from under the bench an enormous bottle, from which he seemed to draw a considerable quantity of something pleasant. Then he passed it to Cocoleu, who likewise began to pull, eagerly and long, and with an expression of idiotic beatitude. Then patting his stomach with his hands, he said, "That's that's that's good!" M. Daubigeon whispered into Dr. Seignebos's ear,
Then he walked up to him, and said, "Don't be afraid, Cocoleu. We want to do you no harm; only you must answer our questions. Do you recollect what happened the other night at Valpinson?" Cocoleu laughed, the laugh of an idiot, but he made no reply. And then, for a whole hour, begging, threatening, and promising by turns, the magistrate tried in vain to obtain one word from him.
But, as soon as the baron told me that the innocent had disappeared, I said to myself, 'I am sure he is in his hole: let us go and see. So I gathered up my legs; I ran down to the rocks: and there was Cocoleu. But it was not so easy to pull him out of his den. He would not come; and, while defending himself, he bit me in the hand, like the mad dog that he is."
Besides, even the least observant among those present had been struck by the singular course which the proceedings had taken. There was not one, probably, in that vast assembly who did not feel that there was a mysterious and unexplored side of the case, which neither the prosecution nor the defence had chosen to approach. Why had Cocoleu been mentioned only once, and then quite incidentally?
'Evidently, adds the brother, 'there was an inspiration from on high. For this is the conclusion at which my learned brother arrives in his report: 'Cocoleu is an idiot who had been providentially inspired by a flash of reason. He does not say it in these words; but it amounts to the same thing." He had taken off his spectacles, and was wiping them industriously.
Mind, especially, any incidents that may happen during the trial; for he has always some kind of surprise in reserve." "These are my adversaries," thought M. Galpin. "What surprise, I wonder, is there in store for me? Have they really given up all idea of using Cocoleu?"
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