“And after that?”

“Of course I came down, and I saw those three men that are lying there picking a quarrel with the young man you have arrested; the poor innocent!  For he is innocent, as truly as I am an honest woman.  If my son Polyte had been here he would have separated them; but I, a poor widow, what could I do!  I cried ‘Police!’ with all my might.”

After giving this testimony she resumed her seat, thinking she had said enough.  But Gevrol rudely ordered her to stand up again.  “Oh! we have not done,” said he.  “I wish for other particulars.”

“What particulars, dear Monsieur Gevrol, since I saw nothing?”

Anger crimsoned the inspector’s ears.  “What would you say, old woman, if I arrested you?”

“It would be a great piece of injustice.”

“Nevertheless, it is what will happen if you persist in remaining silent.  I have an idea that a fortnight in Saint Lazare would untie your tongue.”

These words produced the effect of an electric shock on the Widow Chupin.  She suddenly ceased her hypocritical lamentations, rose, placed her hands defiantly on her hips, and poured forth a torrent of invective upon Gevrol and his agents, accusing them of persecuting her family ever since they had previously arrested her son, a good-for-nothing fellow.  Finally, she swore that she was not afraid of prison, and would be only too glad to end her days in jail beyond the reach of want.

At first the General tried to impose silence upon the terrible termagant:  but he soon discovered that he was powerless; besides, all his subordinates were laughing.  Accordingly he turned his back upon her, and, advancing toward the murderer, he said:  “You, at least, will not refuse an explanation.”

The man hesitated for a moment.  “I have already said all that I have to say,” he replied, at last.  “I have told you that I am innocent; and this woman and a man on the point of death who was struck down by my hand, have both confirmed my declaration.  What more do you desire?  When the judge questions me, I will, perhaps, reply; until then do not expect another word from me.”

It was easy to see that the fellow’s resolution was irrevocable; and that he was not to be daunted by any inspector of police.  Criminals frequently preserve an absolute silence, from the very moment they are captured.  These men are experienced and shrewd, and lawyers and judges pass many sleepless nights on their account.  They have learned that a system of defense can not be improvised at once; that it is, on the contrary, a work of patience and meditation; and knowing what a terrible effect an apparently insignificant response drawn from them at the moment of detection may produce on a court of justice, they remain obstinately silent.  So as to see whether the present culprit was an old hand or not, Gevrol was about to insist on a full explanation when some one announced that the soldier had just breathed his last.