United States or Oman ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
This Polyte was a laborer, who had been employed on the farm for a few days, and who had been dismissed by Lecacheur for an insolent answer. He was an old soldier, and was supposed to have retained his habits of marauding and debauchery front his campaigns in Africa.
At last, one midnight, 'Polyte Grandissime stepped cautiously up to one of the batten doors with an auger, and succeeded, without arousing any one, in boring a hole. He discovered a lighted candle standing in a glass of water. "Nothing but a bedroom light," said one. "Ah, bah!" whispered the other; "it is to make the spell work strong."
They had hoped to arrive at a solution of the problem by examining Polyte Chupin and his wife, and they had been disappointed; for the prisoner's identity remained as problematical as ever. "And yet," exclaimed the magistrate impatiently, "these people know something about this matter, and if they would only speak " "But they won't." "What motive is it that keeps them silent?
This is what we must discover. Who will tell us the price that has been promised Polyte Chupin for his silence? What recompense can he count upon? It must be a great one, for he is braving real danger!" Lecoq did not immediately reply to the magistrate's successive queries, but it was easy to see from his knit brows that his mind was hard at work.
It was considered a nice attention. The repast was given in Polyte Cacheprune's inn.
Every knock at the door makes them start, and every footfall on the staircase causes a tremor as they think that the villain has come to betray their guilty secret. "That is all talk," said Polyte; "such things are never done." "They are done," returned Toto sulkily. "Have you ever tried the dodge yourself, then?" sneered Polyte.
When he saw, however, that the magistrate was not alone, and when he recognized Polyte Chupin the original of the photograph in the man M. Segmuller was examining, his stupefaction became intense. He instantly perceived his mistake and understood its consequences. There was only one thing to be done. He must prevent any exchange of words between the two.
If I had seen him, I should have made him eat it raw, skin and flesh, without a drop of cider to wash it down. But as for saying who it is, I cannot, although I believe it is that good-for-nothing Polyte."
"Here, Agricole," his kinsmen at length said, "you see you are too old for this sort of thing; besides, it would be bad taste for you, who might be presumed to harbor feelings of revenge, to have a voice in this council." And then they added to one another: "We will wait until 'Polyte reports whether or not they have caught Palmyre; much will depend on that."
If my son Polyte had been here he would have separated them; but I, a poor widow, what could I do! I cried 'Police! with all my might." After giving this testimony she resumed her seat, thinking she had said enough. But Gevrol rudely ordered her to stand up again. "Oh! we have not done," said he. "I wish for other particulars." "What particulars, dear Monsieur Gevrol, since I saw nothing?"
Word Of The Day