“I beg you will notice, doctor, that Count Claudieuse himself deposed how, when he ran to the fire, he found the door shut from within, just as he had left it a few hours before.”

Dr. Seignebos returned a most ironical bow, and then asked,—­

“Is there really only one door in the chateau at Valpinson?”

“To my knowledge,” said M. de Chandore, “there are at least three.”

“And I must say,” added M. Magloire, “that according to M. de Boiscoran’s statement, the countess, on that evening, had gone out by the laundry-door when she came to meet him.”

“What did I say?” exclaimed the doctor.

And, wiping his glasses in a perfect rage, he added,—­

“And the children!  Does Mr. Mayor think it natural that the Countess Claudieuse, this incomparable mother in his estimation, should forget her children in the height of the fire?”

“What!  The poor woman is called out by the discharge of fire-arms; she sees her house on fire; she stumbles over the lifeless body of her husband:  and you blame her for not having preserved all her presence of mind.”

“That is one view of it; but it is not the one I take.  I rather think that the countess, having been delayed out of doors, was prevented by the fire from getting in again.  I think, also, that Cocoleu came very opportunely; and that it was very lucky Providence should inspire his mind with that sublime idea of saving the children at the risk of his life.”

This time M. Seneschal made no reply.

“Supported by all these facts,” continued the doctor, “my suspicions became so strong that I determined to ascertain the truth, if I could.  The next day I questioned the countess, and, I must confess, rather treacherously.  Her replies and her looks were not such as to modify my views.  When I asked her, looking straight into her eyes, what she thought of Cocoleu’s mental condition, she nearly fainted; and she could hardly make me hear her when she said that she occasionally caught glimpses of intelligence in him.  When I asked her if Cocoleu was fond of her, she said, in a most embarrassed manner, that his devotion was that of an animal which is grateful for the care taken of him.  What do you think of that, gentlemen?  To me it appeared that Cocoleu was at the bottom of the whole affair; that he knew the truth; and that I should be able to save Jacques, if I could prove Cocoleu’s imbecility to be assumed, and his speechlessness to be an imposture.  And I would have proved it, if they had associated with me any one else but this ass and this jackanapes from Paris.”

He paused for a few seconds; but, without giving anybody time to reply, he went on,—­

“Now, let us go back to our point of departure, and draw our conclusions.  Why do you think it so improbable and impossible that the countess Claudieuse should have betrayed her duties?  Because she has a world-wide reputation for purity and prudence.  Well.  But was not Jacques de Boiscoran’s reputation as a man of honor also above all doubt?  According to your views, it is absurd to suspect the countess of having had a lover.  According to my notions, it is absurd that Jacques should, overnight, have become a scoundrel.”