And at once he went on with overwhelming volubility,—­

“The imbecile preserves some fragments of intelligence.  He can speak, make known his wants, and express his feelings.  He associates ideas, compares impressions, remembers things, and acquires experience.  He is capable of cunning and dissimulation.  He hates and likes and fears.  If he is not always sociable, he is susceptible of being influenced by others.  You can easily obtain perfect control over him.  His inconsistency is remarkable; and still he shows, at times, invincible obstinacy.  Finally, imbeciles are, on account of this semi-lucidity, often very dangerous.  You find among them almost all those monomaniacs whom society is compelled to shut up in asylums, because they cannot master their instincts.”

“Very well said,” repeated M. Folgat, who found here some elements of a plea,—­“very well said.”

The doctor bowed.

“Such a creature is Cocoleu.  Does it follow that I hold him responsible for his actions?  By no means!  But it follows that I look upon him as a false witness brought forth to ruin an honest man.”

It was evident that such views did not please M. de Chandore.

“Formerly,” he said, “you did not think so.”

“No, I even said the contrary,” replied Dr. Seignebos, not without dignity.  “I had not studied Cocoleu sufficiently, and I was taken in by him:  I confess it openly.  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.  The country-people, who observe carefully and shrewdly, were not taken in; they will tell you, almost to a man, that Cocoleu is bad, but not an idiot.  That is the truth.  He has found out, that, by exaggerating his imbecility, he could live without work; and he has done it.  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,—­

“All this I had told my learned brother, before taking him to the hospital.  There we found Cocoleu more obstinate than ever in his silence, which even M. Galpin had not induced him to break.  All our efforts to obtain a word from him were fruitless, although it was very evident to me that he understood very well.  I proposed to resort to quite legitimate means, which are employed to discover feigned defects and diseases; but my learned brother refused and was encouraged in his resistance by M. Galpin:  I do not know upon what ground.  Then I asked that the Countess Claudieuse should be sent for, as she has a talent of making him talk.  M. Galpin would not permit it—­and there we are.”