He turns crimson, and, bending down to his counsel, says a few words to them so quickly and so low, that they do not reach us.

P.—­What is the matter?

M. MAGLOIRE.—­(Rising.) A fact has become patent which at once establishes the innocence of M. de Boiscoran.  By providential intercession, his servant Anthony had cleaned the gun two days before the day of the crime.  It appears now that one of the barrels is still clean, and in good condition.  Hence it cannot be M. de Boiscoran who has fired twice at Count Claudieuse.

During this time the accused has gone up to the table on which the objects are lying.  He wraps his handkerchief around the ramrod, slips it into one of the barrels, draws it out again, and shows that it is hardly soiled.

The whole audience is in a state of great excitement.

P.—­Do the same thing to the other barrel.

The accused does it.  The handkerchief remains clean.

P.—­You see, and still you have told us that you had burnt, perhaps, a dozen cartridges to light your cigars.  But the prosecution had foreseen this objection, and they are prepared to meet it.  Sheriff, bring in the witness, Maucroy.

Our readers all know this gentleman, whose beautiful collection of weapons, sporting-articles, and fishing-tackle, is one of the ornaments of our great Square.  He is dressed up, and without hesitation takes the required oath.

P.—­Repeat your deposition with regard to this gun.

WITNESS.—­It is an excellent gun, and very costly:  such guns are not made in France, where people are too economical.

At this answer the whole audience laughs.  M. Maucroy is not exactly famous for cheap bargains.  Even some of the jurymen can hardly control their laughter.

P.—­Never mind your reflections on that object.  Tell us only what you know about the peculiarities of this gun.

WITNESS.—­Well, thanks to a peculiar arrangement of the cartridges, and thanks, also, to the special nature of the fulminating material, the barrels hardly ever become foul.

A.—­(Eagerly.) You are mistaken, sir.  I have myself cleaned my gun frequently; and I have, just on the contrary, found the barrels extremely foul.

WITNESS.—­Because you had fired too often.  But I mean to say that you can use up two or three cartridges without a trace being left in the barrels.

A.—­I deny that positively.

P.—­(To witness.) And if a dozen cartridges were burnt?

WITNESS.—­Oh, then, the barrels would be very foul.

P.—­Examine the barrels, and tell us what you see.

WITNESS.—­(After a minute examination.) I declare that two cartridges cannot have been used since the gun was cleaned.

P.—­(To the accused.) Well, what becomes of that dozen cartridges which you have used up to light your cigars, and which had blackened your hands so badly?

M. MAGLOIRE.—­The question is too serious to be left entirely in the hands of a single witness.