Perhaps he thought that the innocent man
would not be in danger of his life; at all events he hoped to gain
time by this ruse; while the bear is smelling and turning over the
glove, the huntsman gains ground, escapes and reaches his place of
refuge; that was what Tremorel proposed to do."
The Corbeil policeman was now undoubtedly Lecoq's most enthusiastic
listener. Goulard literally drank in his chief's words. He had
never heard any of his colleagues express themselves with such
fervor and authority; he had had no idea of such eloquence, and he
stood erect, as if some of the admiration which he saw in all the
faces were reflected back on him. He grew in his own esteem as he
thought that he was a soldier in an army commanded by such generals.
He had no longer any opinion excepting that of his superior. It
was not so easy to persuade, subjugate, and convince the judge.
"But," objected the latter, "you saw Guespin's countenance?"
"Ah, what matters the countenance--what does that prove? Don't
we know if you and I were arrested to-morrow on a terrible charge,
what our bearing would be?"
M. Domini gave a significant start; this hypothesis scarcely
pleased him.
Pages:
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407