Conscience -- Volume 2

the decision that had "failed him so often during his vigil," he resolved to go to Caff

he exclaimed. "Is

act

am his

s a doctor!" crie

concierge, half fainting, was seated on a chair, surrounded by all the

ows he was able

r Caffie is dead?" he

he is dead; at le

l, t

since the light of his lamp is seen in the court, and he never leaves it burning when he goes to

h of keys, and a little man with a shrewd, sharp appearance, wearing spectacles,

ry?" he asked

he fi

with

, the locksmith, and one of the policemen; Saniel wishe

ur Commissioner

you wis

eur Caffie'

r na

or Sa

ner said, "but alone. Make every one

ook at the brown stain which, running under the door,

" Saniel said, who stopped to exam

he commissioner sa

looked among his keys, selec

issioner said. "Doctor, have

ickened, starting from Caffie's chair, and running across the tiled floor, which sloped a little toward the side of the sta

" Saniel said. "Death must have occurred two

r yoursel

g, he picked

nife?" asked Saniel, who

oks li

fie's head and ex

ccustomed to handle this knife. But it is not only a strong and practised hand that has done this deed; it was guided by a

t was done b

wo carotid arteries, with the jugular veins. As the assassin had to raise the head, the victim was n

rs to me very we

on," Saniel continued, pointing to the door. "Bu

rew a glance about the room-the glance

e affair becomes clear; the assa

trance, which the commissioner open

s room, where you can continue your examination more easil

ssible to raise an objection. The chair was rolled into the bedroom, where two candles had been li

use; but he could not prolong it beyond certain limits. When they were reached, he returned to the cl

om five to seven o'clo

ff

irs; that took me twenty minutes, because I am stiff in my joints, and during t

turning to Saniel, "have you fo

only the wound

edico-legal report while

ling

e clerk's desk, facing the commissioner's sec

you take the oath,"

ality Saniel be

ulty, residing in Paris in the Rue Louis-le-Grand, after having taken an

ntion to everything that was said, and did no

five until now no one has gone up or down the

re half-p

quarter past five until hal

quarter past

s passed whom I

g them ask you fo

asked me if Monsieur Caffie was at home; but

who i

ieur Caffies

s n

tin-Monsieur Flo

ted at this name, but h

he come?" asked

lock, before ra

see him

y, he spo

time w

past t

e occurred at this moment?" the co

have been between f

a fly. And then, there is a good reason why death could not have taken place between three o'clock and half-past; it is that Monsie

y, striking her for

As I went upstairs at a quarter past five to light my gas, some one came behind me and rang Monsieur

was obliged to lean his hand on t

was

t see him, but I heard him, the step of a man. It

eemed

on the stairs; he knew

ntinued h

le to make her say more, the commissioner dismissed her, and leaving Saniel

the book of Caffie's safe, simple and primitive, like everything relating to the old m

y, " thirty-five or thirty-six thousand francs must have been taken

imum: a date, a name, a sum, and after this name a capital P, which, without doubt, meant "paid." It was hardly possible that with such a system Caffie had ever ta

inished," he sa

me some information concerning the habits

ient, by accident. He undertook an affair for me, and I gave him advice; he was in the

thing; he h

l in cutting throats, perhaps he is less s

d the commissioner, smiling.

ems pr

kni

ve stolen it

mode of o

, is the point from w

in no longer, and

if you want me, I leave to-morrow for Nice. But I sh

veral days. We shall not get on very r