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Updated: May 8, 2025
Grandpapa Chandore, excellent M. Seneschal, Dr. Seignebos, and even M. Magloire, were literally drinking in the words of the Paris lawyer. "Is that all, gentlemen?" he continued. "By no means! Thanks to his great experience, Dr. Seignebos had, on the very first day, instinctively guessed who was the most important personage of this mysterious drama." "Cocoleu!" "Exactly, Cocoleu.
M. de Chandore therefore interrupted him, saying, "In fine" "In fine, my learned brother is fully persuaded that his mission as a physician employed by a court of justice is to say 'Amen' to all the stories of the prosecution. 'Cocoleu is an idiot, says M. Galpin peremptorily. 'He is an idiot, or ought to be one, reechoes my learned brother.
When he was taken in by Count Claudieuse, he was clever enough to show just so much intelligence as was necessary to make him endurable, without being compelled to do any work." "In a word," said M. de Chandore incredulously, "Cocoleu is a great actor." "Great enough to have deceived me," replied the doctor: "yes, sir." Then turning to M. Folgat, he went on,
They heard in the passage the noise of steps and voices, something like a scuffle; and almost instantly the tenant's son Michael pushed open the door of the sitting-room, crying out, "I have gotten him! Here he is!" And with these words he pushed in Cocoleu, all struggling, and looking around him, like a wild beast caught in a trap.
The mayor had for some time refused to grant the request, which seemed to him unreasonable; but he doctor had talked so loud and insisted so strongly, that at last he had sent two gendarmes to Brechy with orders to bring back Cocoleu. They had returned several hours later with empty hands.
"Well?" as if, in his despair, he had hoped for some help or advice in his troubles, "well?" No answer came. All the others were as much troubled as he was. They all tried to shake off the overwhelming impression made by this accumulation of evidence; but in vain. At last, after a moment's silence, the magistrate said with strange bitterness, "You see, gentlemen, I was right in examining Cocoleu.
But this avowal of mine is an evidence of the cunning and the astute obstinacy of these wretched creatures, and of their capacity to carry out a design. After a year's experience, I sent Cocoleu away, declaring, and certainly believing, that he was incurable. The fact is, he did not want to be cured.
"Sir, do you think I am a man to be turned aside from my duty by considerations of friendship or personal interest?" "I said nothing of the kind." "Did you not see just now how I carried on the inquiry? Did you see me start when Cocoleu first mentioned M. de Boiscoran's name? If he had denounced any one else, I should probably have let the matter rest there.
I saw him this morning at the hospital, when I paid my usual visit; and he found an opportunity to tell me that he was almost certain of success." "Well?" "I am persuaded Cocoleu will speak. But will he speak in time? That is the question. Ah, if we had but a month's time, I should say Jacques is safe. But our hours are counted, you know. The court will be held next week.
To me it appeared that Cocoleu was at the bottom of the whole affair; that he knew the truth; and that I should be able to save Jacques, if I could prove Cocoleu's imbecility to be assumed, and his speechlessness to be an imposture. And I would have proved it, if they had associated with me any one else but this ass and this jackanapes from Paris."
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