original short stories-3-第6部分

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circuit；　for　he　was　opposed　to　the　government；　in　accordance　with　family
traditions。

The　mayor　asked：

〃What's　the　matter　now；　Mederic？〃

〃I　found　a　little　girl　dead　in　your　wood。〃

Renardet　rose　to　his　feet；　his　face　the　color　of　brick。

〃What　do　you　saya　little　girl？〃

〃Yes；　m'sieu；　a　little　girl；　quite　naked；　on　her　back；　with　blood　on　her；
deadquite　dead！〃

The　mayor　gave　vent　to　an　oath：

〃By　God；　I'd　make　a　bet　it　is　little　Louise　Roque！　　I　have　just　learned
that　she　did　not　go　home　to　her　mother　last　night。　　Where　did　you　find
her？〃

The　postman　described　the　spot；　gave　full　details　and　offered　to　conduct
the　mayor　to　the　place。

But　Renardet　became　brusque：

〃No；　I　don't　need　you。　　Send　the　watchman；　the　mayor's　secretary　and　the
doctor　to　me　at　once；　and　resume　your　rounds。　　Quick；　quick；　go　and　tell
them　to　meet　me　in　the　wood。〃

The　letter　carrier；　a　man　used　to　discipline；　obeyed　and　withdrew；　angry
and　grieved　at　not　being　able　to　be　present　at　the　investigation。

The　mayor；　in　his　turn；　prepared　to　go　out；　took　his　big　soft　hat　and
paused　for　a　few　seconds　on　the　threshold　of　his　abode。　　In　front　of　him
stretched　a　wide　sward；　in　which　were　three　large　beds　of　flowers　in　full
bloom；　one　facing　the　house　and　the　others　at　either　side　of　it。　　Farther
on　the　outlying　trees　of　the　wood　rose　skyward；　while　at　the　left；　beyond
the　Brindille；　which　at　that　spot　widened　into　a　pond；　could　be　seen　long
meadows；　an　entirely　green　flat　sweep　of　country；　intersected　by　trenches
and　hedges　of　pollard　willows。

To　the　right；　behind　the　stables；　the　outhouses　and　all　the　buildings
connected　with　the　property；　might　be　seen　the　village；　which　was
wealthy；　being　mainly　inhabited　by　cattle　breeders。

Renardet　slowly　descended　the　steps　in　front　of　his　house；　and；　turning
to　the　left；　gained　the　water's　edge；　which　he　followed　at　a　slow　pace；
his　hand　behind　his　back。　　He　walked　on；　with　bent　head；　and　from　time　to
time　glanced　round　in　search　of　the　persons　he　had　sent　for。

When　he　stood　beneath　the　trees　he　stopped；　took　off　his　hat　and　wiped
his　forehead　as　Mederic　had　done；　for　the　burning　sun　was　darting　its
fiery　rays　on　the　earth。　　Then　the　mayor　resumed　his　journey；　stopped
once　more　and　retraced　his　steps。　　Suddenly；　stooping　down；　he　steeped
his　handkerchief　in　the　stream　that　glided　along　at　his　feet　and　spread
it　over　his　head；　under　his　hat。　　Drops　of　water　flowed　down　his　temples
over　his　ears；　which　were　always　purple；　over　his　strong　red　neck；　and
made　their　way；　one　after　the　other；　under　his　white　shirt　collar。

As　nobody　had　appeared；　he　began　tapping　with　his　foot；　then　he　called
out：

〃Hello！　　Hello！〃

A　voice　at　his　right　answered：

〃Hello！　　Hello！〃

And　the　doctor　appeared　under　the　trees。　　He　was　a　thin　little　man；　an
ex…military　surgeon；　who　passed　in　the　neighborhood　for　a　very　skillful
practitioner。　　He　limped；　having　been　wounded　while　in　the　service；　and
had　to　use　a　stick　to　assist　him　in　walking。

Next　came　the　watchman　and　the　mayor's　secretary；　who；　having　been　sent
for　at　the　same　time；　arrived　together。　　They　looked　scared；　and　hurried
forward；　out　of　breath；　walking　and　running　alternately　to　hasten　their
progress；　and　moving　their　arms　up　and　down　so　vigorously　that　they
seemed　to　do　more　work　with　them　than　with　their　legs。

Renardet　said　to　the　doctor：

〃You　know　what　the　trouble　is　about？〃

〃Yes；　a　child　found　dead　in　the　wood　by　Mederic。〃

〃That's　quite　correct。　　Come　on！〃

They　walked　along；　side　by　side；　followed　by　the　two　men。

Their　steps　made　no　sound　on　the　moss。　　Their　eyes　were　gazing　ahead　in
front　of　them。

Suddenly　the　doctor；　extending　his　arm；　said：

〃See；　there　she　is！〃

Far　ahead　of　them　under　the　trees　they　saw　something　white　on　which　the
sun　gleamed　down　through　the　branches。　　As　they　approached　they　gradually
distinguished　a　human　form　lying　there；　its　head　toward　the　river；　the
face　covered　and　the　arms　extended　as　though　on　a　crucifix。

〃I　am　fearfully　warm；〃　said　the　mayor；　and　stooping　down；　he　again　soaked
his　handkerchief　in　the　water　and　placed　it　round　his　forehead。

The　doctor　hastened　his　steps；　interested　by　the　discovery。　　As　soon　as
they　were　near　the　corpse；　he　bent　down　to　examine　it　without　touching
it。　　He　had　put　on　his　pince…nez；　as　one　does　in　examining　some　curious
object；　and　turned　round　very　quietly。

He　said；　without　rising：

〃Violated　and　murdered；　as　we　shall　prove　presently。　　This　little　girl；
moreover；　is　almost　a　womanlook　at　her　throat。〃

The　doctor　lightly　drew　away　the　handkerchief　which　covered　her　face；
which　looked　black；　frightful；　the　tongue　protruding；　the　eyes　bloodshot。
He　went　on：

〃By　heavens！　　She　was　strangled　the　moment　the　deed　was　done。〃

He　felt　her　neck。

〃Strangled　with　the　hands　without　leaving　any　special　trace；　neither　the
mark　of　the　nails　nor　the　imprint　of　the　fingers。　　Quite　right。　　It　is
little　Louise　Roque；　sure　enough！〃

He　carefully　replaced　the　handkerchief。

〃There's　nothing　for　me　to　do。　　She's　been　dead　for　the　last　hour　at
least。　　We　must　give　notice　of　the　matter　to　the　authorities。〃

Renardet；　standing　up；　with　his　hands　behind　his　back；　kept　staring　with
a　stony　look　at　the　little　body　exposed　to　view　on　the　grass。　　He
murmured：

〃What　a　wretch！　　We　must　find　the　clothes。〃

The　doctor　felt　the　hands；　the　arms；　the　legs。　　He　said：

〃She　had　been　bathing　no　doubt。　　They　ought　to　be　at　the　water's　edge。〃

The　mayor　thereupon　gave　directions：

〃Do　you；　Principe〃　（this　was　his　secretary）；　〃go　and　find　those　clothes
for　me　along　the　stream。　　You；　Maxime〃　（this　was　the　watchman）；　〃hurry　on
toward　Rouy…le…Tors　and　bring　with　you　the　magistrate　with　the　gendarmes。
They　must　be　here　within　an　hour。　　You　understand？〃

The　two　men　started　at　once；　and　Renardet　said　to　the　doctor：

〃What　miscreant　could　have　done　such　a　deed　in　this　part　of　the　country？〃

The　doctor　murmured：

〃Who　knows？　　Any　one　is　capable　of　that。　　Every　one　in　particular　and
nobody　in　general。　　No　matter；　it　must　be　some　prowler；　some　workman　out
of　employment。　　Since　we　have　become　a　Republic　we　meet　only　this　kind　of
person　along　the　roads。〃

Both　of　them　were　Bonapartists。

The　mayor　went　on：

〃Yes；　it　can　only　be　a　stranger；　a　passer…by；　a　vagabond　without　hearth
or　home。〃

The　doctor　added；　with　the　shadow　of　a　smile　on　his　face：

〃And　without　a　wife。　　Having　neither　a　good　supper　nor　a　good　bed；　he
became　reckless。　　You　can't　tell　how　many　men　there　may　be　in　the　world
capable　of　a　crime　at　a　given　moment。　　Did　you　know　that　this　little　girl
had　disappeared？〃

And　with　the　end　of　his　stick　he　touched　one　after　the　other　the
stiffened　fingers　of　the　corpse；　resting　on　them　as　on　the　keys　of　a
piano。

〃Yes；　the　mother　came　last　night　to　look　for　me　about　nine　o'clock；　the
child　not　having　come　home　at　seven　to　supper。　　We　looked　for　her　along
the　roads　up　to　midnight；　but　we　did　not　think　of　the　wood。　　However；　we
needed　daylight　to　carry　out　a　thorough　search。〃

〃Will　you　have　a　cigar？〃　said　the　doctor。

〃Thanks；　I　don't　care　to　smoke。　　This　thing　affects　me　so。〃

They　remained　standing　beside　the　corpse　of　the　young　girl；　so　pale　on
the　dark　moss。　　A　big　blue　fly　was　walking　over　the　body　with　his　lively；
jerky　movements。　　The　two　men　kept　watching　this　wandering　speck。

The　doctor　said：

〃How　pretty　it　is；　a　fly　on　the　skin！　　The　ladies　of　the　last　century　had
good　reason　to　paste　them　on　their　faces。　　Why　has　this　fashion　gone
out？〃

The　mayor　seemed　not　to　hear；　plunged　as　he　was　in　deep　thought。

But；　all　of　a　sudden；　he　turned　round；　surprised　by　a　shrill　noise。　　A
woman　in　a　cap　and　blue　apron　was　running　toward　them　under　the　trees。
It　was　the　mother；　La　Roque。　　As　soon　as　she　saw　Renardet　she　began　to
shriek：

〃My　little　girl！　　Where's　my　little　girl？〃　so　distractedly　that　she　did
not　glance　down　at　the　ground。　　Suddenly　she　saw　the　corpse；　stopped
short；　clasped　her　hands　and　raised　both　her　arms　while　she　uttered　a
sharp；　heartrending　crythe　cry　of　a　wounded　animal。　　Then　she　rushed
toward　the　body；　fell　on　her　knees　and　snatched　away　the　handkerchief
that　covered　the　face。　　When　she　saw　that　frightful　countenance；　black
and　distorted；　she　rose　to　her　feet　with　a　shudder；　then　sinking　to　the
ground；　face　downward；　she　pressed　her　face　against　the　ground　and
uttered　frightful；　continuous　screams　on　the　thick　moss。

Her　tall；　thin　frame；　with　its　close…clinging　dress；　was　palpitating；
shaken　with　spasms。　　One　could　see　her　bony　ankles　and　her　dried…up
calves　covered　with　coarse　blue　stockings　shaking　horribly。　　She　was
digging　the　soil　with　her　crooked　fingers；　as　though　she　were　trying　to
make　a　hole　in　which　to　hide　herself。

The　doctor；　much　affected；　said　in　a　low　tone：

〃Poor　old　woman！〃

Renardet　felt　a　strange　sensation。　　Then　he　gave　vent　to　a　sort　of　loud
sneeze；　and；　drawing　his　handkerchief　from　his　pocket；　he　began　to　weep
internally；　coughing；　sobbing　and　blowing　his　nose　noisily。

He　stammered：

〃Damndamndamned　pig　to　do　this！　　I　would　like　to　seem　him
guillotined。〃

Principe　reappeared　with　his　hands　empty。　　He　murmured：

〃I　have　found　nothing；　M'sieu　le　Maire；　nothing　at　all　anywhere。〃

The　mayor；　alarmed；　replied　in　a　thick　voice；　drowned　in　tears：

〃What　is　that　you　could　not　find？〃

〃The　little　girl's　clothes。〃

〃Wellwelllook　again；　and　find　themor　you''ll　have　to　answer　to　me。〃

The　man；　knowing　that　the　mayor　would　not　brook　opposition；　set　forth
again　with　hesitating　steps；　casting　a　timid　side　glance　at　the　corpse。

Distant　voices　were　heard　under　the　trees；　a　confused　sound；　the　noise　of
an　approaching　crowd；　for　Mederic　had；　in　the　course　of　his　rounds；
carried　the　news　from　door　to　door。　　The　people　of　the　neighborhood；
dazed　at　first；　had　gossiped　about　it　in　the　street；　from　one　threshold
to　another。　　Then　they　gathered　together。　　They　talked　over；　discussed
and　commented　on　the　event　for　some　minutes　and　had　now　come　to　see　for
themselves。

They　arrived　in　groups；　a　little　faltering　and　uneasy　through　fear　of　the
first　impression　of　such　a　scene　on　their　minds。　　W