At last one of the ushers comes up to the president, and whispers something into his ear.

The president only nods his head.

When the usher has left the room, M. Domini says,—­

“We shall now proceed to hear the witnesses, and we propose to begin with Count Claudieuse.  Although seriously indisposed, he has preferred to appear in court.”

At these words Dr. Seignebos is seen to start up, as if he wished to address the court; but one of his friends, sitting by him, pulls him down by his coat.  M. Folgat makes a sign to him, and he sits down again.

P.—­Sheriff, bring in Count Claudieuse.

[Examination of Witnesses.]

The small door through which the armorer Maucroy had been admitted opens once more, and Count Claudieuse enters.  Supported and almost carried by his man-servant.

He is greeted by a murmur of sympathetic pity.  He is frightfully thin; and his features look as haggard as if he were about to give up the ghost.  The whole vitality of his system seems to have centred in his eyes, which shine with extraordinary brilliancy.

He takes the oath in an almost inaudible voice.

But the silence is so deep, that when the president asks him the usual question, “Do you swear to tell the whole truth?” and he answers, “I swear,” the words are distinctly heard all over the court-room.

P.—­(Very kindly.) We are very much obliged to you, sir, for the effort which you have made.  That chair has been brought in for you:  please sit down.

COUNT CLAUDIEUSE.—­I thank you, sir; but I am strong enough to stand.

P.—­Please tell us, then, what you know of the attempt made on your life.

C.C.—­It might have been eleven o’clock:  I had gone to bed a little while before, and blown out my light.  I was in that half state which is neither waking nor sleeping, when I saw my room lighted up by a dazzling glare.  I saw it was fire.  I jumped out of bed, and, only lightly dressed, rushed down the stairs.  I found some difficulty in opening the outer door, which I had locked myself.  At last I succeeded.  But I had no sooner put my foot outside than I felt a terrible pain in my right side, and at the same time I heard an explosion of fire-arms.  Instinctively I rushed towards the place from which the shot seemed to have been fired; but, before I had taken three steps, I was struck once more in my shoulder, and fell down unconscious.

P.—­How long a time was there between the first and the second shots?

C.C.—­Almost three or four seconds.

P.—­Was that time enough to distinguish the murderer?

C.C.—­Yes; and I saw him run from behind a wood-pile, where he had been lying in ambush, and escape into the country.

P.—­You can tell us, no doubt, how he was dressed?

C.C.—­Certainly.  He had on a pair of light gray trousers, a dark coat, and a large straw hat.