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Updated: May 31, 2025
In short, he produced such a favorable impression that, although M. Segmuller reserved twenty-four hours in which to make further inquiries, he drew a twenty-franc piece from his pocket on the spot and tendered it to the Norman valet as the first instalment of his wages.
The name of Lacheneur faltered by a dying man; a few footprints on some melting snow; a sleepy cab-driver's declaration; and a vague doubt about a drunkard's identity. If that is all you have against me, it certainly doesn't amount to much " "Enough!" interrupted M. Segmuller. "Your assurance is perfect now; though a moment ago your embarrassment was most remarkable. What was the cause of it?"
If truth has any particular accent of its own, as moralists have asserted, the murderer had found that accent. Voice, gesture, glance, expression, all were in accord; not a word of his long story had rung false. "Now," said M. Segmuller, coldly, "what are your means of subsistence?"
"Yes, sir, I went to fetch Chupin to the parlor myself." "And who was his visitor?" eagerly asked Lecoq, "wasn't he a tall man; very red in the face " "Excuse me, sir, the visitor was a lady his aunt, at least so Chupin told me." Neither M. Segmuller nor Lecoq could restrain an exclamation of surprise. "What was she like?" they both asked at the same time.
"I was a fool," he stammered at last. "I didn't know whether these men were police agents or friends of the fellows I had killed." "In either case your own interest should have induced you to fly." The prisoner remained silent. "Ah, well!" resumed M. Segmuller, "let me tell you my opinion.
The whole scene had been so brief that M. Segmuller was still forming the order for Toinon to be removed from the room, when he found the door closed again, and himself and Goguet alone with Polyte. "Ah, ah!" thought the smiling clerk, in a flutter of delight, "this is something new."
"I come to ask," said he, "if I am still to retain the prisoner May in solitary confinement?" "Yes." "Although I fear fresh attacks of frenzy, I dislike to confine him in the strait-jacket again." "Leave him free in his cell," replied M. Segmuller; "and tell the keepers to watch him well, but to treat him kindly."
"Has the Widow Chupin been brought here, in compliance with my orders?" asked M. Segmuller. "Yes, sir; she is in the gallery outside." "Let her come in then." An instant later the hostess of the Poivriere entered the room, bowing to the right and to the left. This was not her first appearance before a magistrate, and she was not ignorant of the respect that is due to justice.
He had, in the mean time, been brought before the correctional court on a charge of theft; and, to his great astonishment, had heard himself sentenced to thirteen months' imprisonment. After this, M. Segmuller had nothing to do but to wait, and this was the easier as the advent of the Easter holidays gave him an opportunity to seek a little rest and recreation with his family in the provinces.
And in fact M. Segmuller did return to it only a moment afterward. "Suppose this man were released from prison," said he, "what would you do?" "What would I do, sir! I would follow him like grim death; I would not once let him out of my sight; I would be his shadow." "And do you suppose he wouldn't discover this surveillance?" "I should take my precautions."
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