original short stories-3-第7部分

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first　impression　of　such　a　scene　on　their　minds。　　When　they　saw　the　body
they　stopped；　not　daring　to　advance；　and　speaking　low。　　Then　they　grew
bolder；　went　on　a　few　steps；　stopped　again；　advanced　once　more；　and
presently　formed　around　the　dead　girl；　her　mother；　the　doctor　and
Renardet　a　close　circle；　restless　and　noisy；　which　crowded　forward　at　the
sudden　impact　of　newcomers。　　And　now　they　touched　the　corpse。　　Some　of
them　even　bent　down　to　feel　it　with　their　fingers。　　The　doctor　kept　them
back。　　But　the　mayor；　waking　abruptly　out　of　his　torpor；　flew　into　a
rage；　and　seizing　Dr。　　Labarbe's　stick；　flung　himself　on　his　townspeople；
stammering：

〃Clear　outclear　outyou　pack　of　brutesclear　out！〃

And　in　a　second　the　crowd　of　sightseers　had　fallen　back　two　hundred
paces。

Mother　La　Roque　had　risen　to　a　sitting　posture　and　now　remained　weeping；
with　her　hands　clasped　over　her　face。

The　crowd　was　discussing　the　affair；　and　young　lads'　eager　eyes　curiously
scrutinized　this　nude　young　form。　　Renardet　perceived　this；　and；　abruptly
taking　off　his　coat；　he　flung　it　over　the　little　girl；　who　was　entirely
hidden　from　view　beneath　the　large　garment。

The　secretary　drew　near　quietly。　　The　wood　was　filled　with　people；　and　a
continuous　hum　of　voices　rose　up　under　the　tangled　foliage　of　the　tall
trees。

The　mayor；　in　his　shirt　sleeves；　remained　standing；　with　his　stick　in　his
hands；　in　a　fighting　attitude。　　He　seemed　exasperated　by　this　curiosity
on　the　part　of　the　people　and　kept　repeating：

〃If　one　of　you　come　nearer　I'll　break　his　head　just　as　I　would　a　dog's。〃

The　peasants　were　greatly　afraid　of　him。　　They　held　back。　　Dr。　Labarbe；
who　was　smoking；　sat　down　beside　La　Roque　and　spoke　to　her　in　order　to
distract　her　attention。　　The　old　woman　at　once　removed　her　hands　from　her
face　and　replied　with　a　flood　of　tearful　words；　emptying　her　grief　in
copious　talk。　　She　told　the　whole　story　of　her　life；　her　marriage；　the
death　of　her　man；　a　cattle　drover；　who　had　been　gored　to　death；　the
infancy　of　her　daughter；　her　wretched　existence　as　a　widow　without
resources　and　with　a　child　to　support。　　She　had　only　this　one；　her　little
Louise；　and　the　child　had　been　killedkilled　in　this　wood。　　Then　she
felt　anxious　to　see　her　again；　and；　dragging　herself　on　her　knees　toward
the　corpse；　she　raised　up　one　corner　of　the　garment　that　covered　her；
then　she　let　it　fall　again　and　began　wailing　once　more。　　The　crowd
remained　silent；　eagerly　watching　all　the　mother's　gestures。

But　suddenly　there　was　a　great　commotion　at　the　cry　of　〃The　gendarmes！
the　gendarmes！〃

Two　gendarmes　appeared　in　the　distance；　advancing　at　a　rapid　trot；
escorting　their　captain　and　a　little　gentleman　with　red　whiskers；　who　was
bobbing　up　and　down　like　a　monkey　on　a　big　white　mare。

The　watchman　had　just　found　Monsieur　Putoin；　the　magistrate；　at　the
moment　when　he　was　mounting　his　horse　to　take　his　daily　ride；　for　he
posed　as　a　good　horseman；　to　the　great　amusement　of　the　officers。

He　dismounted；　along　with　the　captain；　and　pressed　the　hands　of　the　mayor
and　the　doctor；　casting　a　ferret…like　glance　on　the　linen　coat　beneath
which　lay　the　corpse。

When　he　was　made　acquainted　with　all　the　facts；　he　first　gave　orders　to
disperse　the　crowd；　whom　the　gendarmes　drove　out　of　the　wood；　but　who
soon　reappeared　in　the　meadow　and　formed　a　hedge；　a　big　hedge　of　excited
and　moving　heads；　on　the　other　side　of　the　stream。

The　doctor；　in　his　turn；　gave　explanations；　which　Renardet　noted　down　in
his　memorandum　book。　　All　the　evidence　was　given；　taken　down　and
commented　on　without　leading　to　any　discovery。　　Maxime；　too；　came　back
without　having　found　any　trace　of　the　clothes。

This　disappearance　surprised　everybody；　no　one　could　explain　it　except　on
the　theory　of　theft；　and　as　her　rags　were　not　worth　twenty　sous；　even
this　theory　was　inadmissible。

The　magistrate；　the　mayor；　the　captain　and　the　doctor　set　to　work
searching　in　pairs；　putting　aside　the　smallest　branch　along　the　water。

Renardet　said　to　the　judge：

〃How　does　it　happen　that　this　wretch　has　concealed　or　carried　away　the
clothes；　and　has　thus　left　the　body　exposed；　in　sight　of　every　one？〃

The　other；　crafty　and　sagacious；　answered：

〃Ha！　ha！　　Perhaps　a　dodge？　　This　crime　has　been　committed　either　by　a
brute　or　by　a　sly　scoundrel。　　In　any　case；　we'll　easily　succeed　in
finding　him。〃

The　noise　of　wheels　made　them　turn　their　heads　round。　　It　was　the　deputy
magistrate；　the　doctor　and　the　registrar　of　the　court　who　had　arrived　in
their　turn。　　They　resumed　their　search；　all　chatting　in　an　animated
fashion。

Renardet　said　suddenly：

〃Do　you　know　that　you　are　to　take　luncheon　with　me？〃

Every　one　smilingly　accepted　the　invitation；　and　the　magistrate；　thinking
that　the　case　of　little　Louise　Roque　had　occupied　enough　attention　for
one　day；　turned　toward　the　mayor。

〃I　can　have　the　body　brought　to　your　house；　can　I　not？　　You　have　a　room
in　which　you　can　keep　it　for　me　till　this　evening？〃

The　other　became　confused　and　stammered：

〃Yesnono。　To　tell　the　truth；　I　prefer　that　it　should　not　come　into　my
house　on　account　ofon　account　of　my　servants；　who　are　already　talking
about　ghosts　inin　my　tower；　in　the　Fox's　tower。　　You　knowI　could　no
longer　keep　a　single　one。　　NoI　prefer　not　to　have　it　in　my　house。〃

The　magistrate　began　to　smile。

〃Good！　I　will　have　it　taken　at　once　to　Roily　for　the　legal　examination。〃
And；　turning　to　his　deputy；　he　said：

〃I　can　make　use　of　your　trap；　can　I　not？〃

〃Yes；　certainly。〃

They　all　came　back　to　the　place　where　the　corpse　lay。　　Mother　La　Roque；
now　seated　beside　her　daughter；　was　holding　her　hand　and　was　staring
right　before　her　with　a　wandering；　listless　eye。

The　two　doctors　endeavored　to　lead　her　away；　so　that　she　might　not
witness　the　dead　girl's　removal；　but　she　understood　at　once　what　they
wanted　to　do；　and；　flinging　herself　on　the　body；　she　threw　both　arms
round　it。　　Lying　on　top　of　the　corpse；　she　exclaimed：

〃You　shall　not　have　itit's　mineit's　mine　now。　　They　have　killed　her
for　me；　and　I　want　to　keep　heryou　shall　not　have　her〃

All　the　men；　affected　and　not　knowing　how　to　act；　remained　standing
around　her。　　Renardet　fell　on　his　knees　and　said　to　her：

〃Listen；　La　Roque；　it　is　necessary；　in　order　to　find　out　who　killed　her。
Without　this；　we　could　not　find　out。　　We　must　make　a　search　for　the　man
in　order　to　punish　him。　　When　we　have　found　him　we'll　give　her　up　to　you。
I　promise　you　this。〃

This　explanation　bewildered　the　woman；　and　a　feeling　of　hatred　manifested
itself　in　her　distracted　glance。

〃So　then　they'll　arrest　him？〃

〃Yes；　I　promise　you　that。〃

She　rose　up；　deciding　to　let　them　do　as　they　liked；　but　when　the　captain
remarked：

〃It　is　surprising　that　her　clothes　were　not　found；〃　a　new　idea；　which　she
had　not　previously　thought　of；　abruptly　entered　her　mind；　and　she　asked：

〃Where　are　her　clothes？　　They're　mine。　　I　want　them。　　Where　have　they
been　put？〃

They　explained　to　her　that　they　had　not　been　found。　　Then　she　demanded
them　persistently；　crying　and　moaning。

〃They're　mineI　want　them。　　Where　are　they？　　I　want　them！〃

The　more　they　tried　to　calm　her　the　more　she　sobbed　and　persisted　in　her
demands。　　She　no　longer　wanted　the　body；　she　insisted　on　having　the
clothes；　as　much　perhaps　through　the　unconscious　cupidity　of　a　wretched
being　to　whom　a　piece　of　silver　represents　a　fortune　as　through　maternal
tenderness。

And　when　the　little　body；　rolled　up　in　blankets　which　had　been　brought
out　from　Renardet's　house；　had　disappeared　in　the　vehicle；　the　old　woman
standing　under　the　trees；　sustained　by　the　mayor　and　the　captain；
exclaimed：

〃I　have　nothing；　nothing；　nothing　in　the　world；　not　even　her　little　cap
her　little　cap。〃

The　cure；　a　young　priest；　had　just　arrived。　　He　took　it　on　himself　to
accompany　the　mother；　and　they　went　away　together　toward　the　village。
The　mother's　grief　was　modified　by　the　sugary　words　of　the　clergyman；　who
promised　her　a　thousand　compensations。　　But　she　kept　repeating：　〃If　I　had
only　her　little　cap。〃　　This　idea　now　dominated　every　other。

Renardet　called　from　the　distance：

〃You　will　lunch　with　us；　Monsieur　l'Abbein　an　hour's　time。〃

The　priest　turned　his　head　round　and　replied：

〃With　pleasure；　Monsieur　le　Maire。　　I'll　be　with　you　at　twelve。〃

And　they　all　directed　their　steps　toward　the　house；　whose　gray　front；
with　the　large　tower　built　on　the　edge　of　the　Brindille；　could　be　seen
through　the　branches。

The　meal　lasted　a　long　time。　　They　talked　about　the　crime。　　Everybody　was
of　the　same　opinion。　　It　had　been　committed　by　some　tramp　passing　there
by　mere　chance　while　the　little　girl　was　bathing。

Then　the　magistrates　returned　to　Rouy；　announcing　that　they　would　return
next　day　at　an　early　hour。　　The　doctor　and　the　cure　went　to　their
respective　homes；　while　Renardet；　after　a　long　walk　through　the　meadows；
returned　to　the　wood；　where　he　remained　walking　till　nightfall　with　slow
steps；　his　hands　behind　his　back。

He　went　to　bed　early　and　was　still　asleep　next　morning　when　the
magistrate　entered　his　room。　　He　was　rubbing　his　hands　together　with　a
self…satisfied　air。

〃Ha！　ha！　　You　are　still　sleeping！　　Well；　my　dear　fellow；　we　have　news
this　morning。〃

The　mayor　sat　up　in　his　bed。

〃What；　pray？〃

〃Oh！　　Something　strange。　　You　remember　well　how　the　mother　clamored
yesterday　for　some　memento　of　her　daughter；　especially　her　little　cap？
Well；　on　opening　her　door　this　morning　she　found　on　the　threshold　her
child's　two　little　wooden　shoes。　This　proves　that　the　crime　was
perpetrated　by　some　one　from　the　district；　some　one　who　felt　pity　for
her。　Besides；　the　postman；　Mederic；　brought　me　the　thimble；　the　knife　and
the　needle　case　of　the　dead　girl。　　So；　then；　the　man　in　carrying　off　the
clothes　to　hide　them　must　have　let　fall　the　articles　which　were　in　the
pocket。　　As　for　me；　I　attach　special　importance　to　the　wooden　shoes；　as
they　indicate　a　certain　moral　culture　and　a　faculty　for　tenderness　on　the
part　of　the　assassin。　　We　will；　therefore；　if　you　have　no　objection；　go
over　together　the　principal　inhabitants　of　your　district。〃

The　mayor　got　up。　　He　rang　for　his　shaving　water　and　said：

〃With