I should like to get him arrested, and that might satisfy these people." "Who would ever have believed that Monsieur Maxence Gilet had inspired so much affection in this town ?" asked Lousteau-Prangin.
"One of my men says there's a crowd of twelve hundred more just coming in from the faubourg de Rome," said the lieutenant of gendarmes, "and they are threatening death to the assassin." "Where is your guest ?" said Monsieur Mouilleron to Monsieur Hochon.
"He has gone to walk in the country, I believe." "Call Gritte," said the judge gravely.

"I was in hopes he had not left the house.

You are aware that the crime was committed not far from here, at daybreak." While Monsieur Hochon went to find Gritte, the three functionaries looked at each other significantly.
"I never liked that painter's face," said the lieutenant to Monsieur Mouilleron.
"My good woman," said the judge to Gritte, when she appeared, "they say you saw Monsieur Joseph Bridau leave the house this morning ?" "Yes, monsieur," she answered, trembling like a leaf.
"At what hour ?" "Just as I was getting up: he walked about his room all night, and was dressed when I came downstairs." "Was it daylight ?" "Barely." "Did he seem excited ?" "Yes, he was all of a twitter." "Send one of your men for my clerk," said Lousteau-Prangin to the lieutenant, "and tell him to bring warrants with him--" "Good God! don't be in such a hurry," cried Monsieur Hochon.

"The young man's agitation may have been caused by something besides the premeditation of this crime.

He meant to return to Paris to-day, to attend to a matter in which Gilet and Mademoiselle Brazier had doubted his honor." "Yes, the affair of the pictures," said Monsieur Mouilleron.