The young lawyer tried modestly to protest.

“Sir”—­

But the other cut him short, and went on,—­

“Yes, sir, you saw it all; and the proof of it is, that you at once went to work in search of the real motive, the heart,—­in fine, the woman at the bottom of the riddle.  The proof of it is, that you went and asked everybody,—­Anthony, M. de Chandore, M. Seneschal, and myself,—­if M. de Boiscoran had not now, or had not had, some love-affair in the country.  They all said No, being far from suspecting the truth.  I alone, without giving you a positive answer, told you that I thought as you did, and told you so in M. de Chandore’s presence.”

“That is so!” replied the old gentleman and M. Folgat.

Dr. Seignebos was triumphant.  Gesticulating, and continually handling his spectacles, he added,—­

“You see I have learnt to mistrust appearances; and hence I had my misgivings from the beginning.  I watched the Countess Claudieuse the night of the fire; and I saw that she looked embarrassed, troubled, suspicious.  I wondered at her readiness to yield to M. Galpin’s whim, and to allow Cocoleu to be examined; for I knew that she was the only one who could ever make that so-called idiot talk.  You see I have good eyes, gentlemen, in spite of my spectacles.  Well, I swear by all I hold most sacred, on my Republican faith, I am ready to affirm upon oath, that, when Cocoleu uttered Jacques de Boiscoran’s name, the countess exhibited no sign of surprise.”

Never before, in their life, had the mayor of Sauveterre and Dr. Seignebos been able to agree on any subject.  This question was not likely to produce such an effect all of a sudden:  hence M. Seneschal said,—­

“I was present at Cocoleu’s examination, and I noticed, on the contrary, the amazement of the countess.”

The doctor raised his shoulders, and said,—­

“Certainly she said, ‘Ah!’ But that is no proof.  I, also, could very easily say, ‘Ah!’ if anybody should come and tell me that the mayor of Sauveterre was in the wrong; and still I should not be surprised.”

“Doctor!” said M. de Chandore, anxious to conciliate,—­“doctor!”

But Dr. Seignebos had already turned to M. Magloire, whom he was anxious to convert, and went on,—­

“Yes, the face of the Countess Claudieuse, expressed amazement; but her eyes spoke of bitter, fierce hatred, of joy, and of vengeance.  And that is not all.  Will you please tell me, Mr. Mayor, when Count Claudieuse was roused by the fire, was the countess by him?  No, she was nursing her youngest daughter, who had the measles.  Hm!  What do you think of measles which make sitting up at night necessary?  And when the two shots were fired, where was the countess then?  Still with her daughter, and on the other side of the house from where the fire was.”

The mayor of Sauveterre was no less obstinate than the doctor.  He at once objected,—­