P.—­And on your return, why did you go through the forest of Rochepommier?

A.—­Because, from the place where I was on the road, it was probably the shortest way to Boiscoran.  I say probably, because just then I did not think much about that.  A man who is taking a walk would be very much embarrassed, in the majority of cases, if he had to give a precise account why he took one road rather than another.

P.—­You were seen in the forest by a woodcutter, called Gaudry?

A.—­So I was told by the magistrate.

P.—­That witness deposes that you were in a state of great excitement. 
You were tearing leaves from the branches, you were talking loud.

A.—­I certainly was very much vexed at having lost my evening, and particularly vexed at having relied on the little peasant-girl.  It is quite likely that I might have exclaimed, as I walked along, “Plague upon my friend, the priest, who goes and dines in town!” or some such words.

There was a smile in the assembly, but not such as to attract the president’s attention.

P.—­You know that the priest of Brechy was dining out that day?

M. Magloire rose, and said,—­

“It is through us, sir, that the accused has found out this fact.  When he told us how he had spent the evening, we went to see the priest at Brechy, who told us how it came about that neither he nor his old servant was at the parsonage.  At our request the priest has been summoned.  We shall also produce another priest, who at that time passed the Marshalls’ Cross-roads, and was the one whom the little girl had seen.”

Having made a sign to counsel to sit down again, the president once more turns to the accused.

P.—­The woman Courtois who met you deposes that you looked very curious.  You did not speak to her:  you were in great haste to escape from her.

A.—­The night was much too dark for the woman to see my face.  She asked me to render her a slight service, and I did so.  I did not speak to her, because I had nothing to say to her.  I did not leave her suddenly, but only got ahead of her, because her ass walked very slowly.

At a sign from the president, the ushers raise the red cloth which cover the objects on the table.

Great curiosity is manifested by the whole audience; and all rise, and stretch their necks to see better.  On the table are displayed clothes, a pair of velveteen trousers, a shooting-jacket of maroon-colored velveteen, an old straw hat, and a pair of dun-colored leather boots.  By their side lie a double-barrelled gun, packages of cartridges, two bowls filled with small-shot, and, finally, a large china basin, with a dark sediment at the bottom.

P.—­(Showing these objects to the accused.) Are those the clothes which you wore the evening of the crime?

A.—­Yes, sir.

P.—­A curious costume in which to visit a venerable ecclesiastic, and to perform religious duties.