The hostess led him to the Bureau; he showed his passport and inquired it there were an opportunity to return that very night to Msur M by the mail coach; only one seat was vacant, that by the side of the driver; he retained it and paid for it. "Monsieur," said the booking clerk, "don't fail to be here ready to start at precisely one o'clock in the morning."

This done, he left the hotel and began to walk in the city.

He was not acquainted in Arras, the streets were dark, and he went hap-hazard. Nevertheless he seemed to refrain obstinately from asking his way. He crossed the little river Crinchon, and found himself in a labyrinth of narrow streets, where he was soon lost. A citizen came along with a lantern. After some hesitation, he determined to speak to this man, but not until he had looked before and behind, as if he were afraid that somebody might overhear the question he was about to ask.

"Monsieur," said he, "the Court House, if you please?" "You are not a resident of the city, Monsieur," answered the citizen, who was an old man, "well, follow me, I am going right by the Court-House, that is to say the City Hall. For they are repairing the Court House just now, and the Courts are holding their sessions at the City Hall, temporarily."

"Is it there," asked he, "that the Assizes are held?"

"Certainly, Monsieur; you see, what is the City Hall today was the Bishop's palace before the Revolution. Monsieur de Conzié, who was bishop in 'Eighty-two, had a large hall built. The Court is held in that hall."

As they walked along, the citizen said to him:

"If Monsieur wishes to see a trial, he is rather late. Ordinarily the sessions close at six o'clock."

However, when they reached the great square, the citizen showed him four long lighted windows on the front of a vast dark building.

"Faith, Monsieur, you are in time, you are fortunate. Do you see those four windows? that is the Court of Assizes. There is a light there. Then they have not finished. The case must have been prolonged and they are having an evening session. Are you interested in this case? Is it a criminal trial? Are you a witness ?”

He answered:

"I have no business; I only wish to speak to a lawyer." "That's another thing," said the citizen. "Stop, Monsieur, here is the door. The doorkeeper is up there. You have only to go up the grand stairway."

He followed the citizen's instructions, and in a few minutes found himself in a hall where there were many people, and scattered groups of lawyers in their robes whispering here and there.

It is always a chilling sight to see these gatherings of men clothed in black, talking among themselves in a low voice on the threshold of the chamber of justice. It is rare that charity and pity can be found in their words. What are oftenest heard are sentences pronounced in advance. All these groups seem to the observer, who passes musingly by, like so many gloomy hives where buzzing spirits are building in common all sorts of dark structures.

This hall, which, though spacious, was lighted by a single lamp, was an ancient hall of the Episcopal palace, and served as a waiting-room. A double folding door, which was now closed, separated it from the large room in which the Court of Assizes was in session.

The obscurity was such that he felt no fear in addressing the first lawyer whom he met.

"Monsieur," said he, "how are they getting along?" "It is finished," said the lawyer.

"Finished!"

The word was repeated in such a tone that the lawyer turned around.

"Pardon me, Monsieur, you are a relative, perhaps ?" "No. I know no one here. And was there a sentence?" "Of course. It was hardly possible for it to be otherwise."

"To hard labour ?"

"For life."

He continued in a voice so weak that it could hardly be heard:

"The identity was established, then ?”

"What identity?" responded the lawyer. "There was no identity to be established. It was a simple affair. This woman had killed her child, the infanticide was proven, the jury were not satisfied that there was any premeditation; she was sentenced for life."

"It is a woman, then ?" said he.

"Certainly.

speaking of?"

The Limosin girl. What else are you

"Nothing, but if it is finished, why is the hall still lighted up ?"

"That is for the other case, which commenced nearly two hours ago."

"What other case?"

"Oh! that is a clear one also. It is a sort of a thief, a second offender, a galley slave, a case of robbery. I forget his name. He looks like a bandit. Were it for nothing but having such a face, I would send him to the galleys." "Monsieur," asked he, "is there any means of getting into the hall ?"

"I think not, really. they are taking a recess.

There is a great crowd. However,

Some people have come out, and

when the session is resumed, you can try."

"How do you get in ?"

"Through that large door."

The lawyer left him. In a few moments he had undergone, almost at the same time, almost together, all possible

emotions. The words of this indifferent man had alternately pierced his heart like icicles and like flames of fire. When

he learned that it was not concluded, he drew breath; but he could not have told whether what he felt was satisfaction or pain.

He approached several groups and listened to their talk. The calendar of the term being very heavy, the judge had set down two short, simple cases for that day. They had begun with the infanticide, and now were on the convict, the second offender, the "old stager." This man had stolen some apples, but that did not appear to be very well proven; what was proven, was that he had been in the galleys at Toulon. This was what ruined his case. The examination of the man had been finished, and the testimony of the witnesses had been taken; but there yet remained the argument of the counsel, and the summing up of his prosecuting attorney; it would hardly be finished before midnight. The man would probably be condemned; the prosecuting attorney was very good, and never failed with his prisoners; he was a fellow of talent, who wrote poetry.

An officer stood near the door which opened into the court-room. He asked this officer:

"Monsieur, will the door be opened soon?" "It will not be opened," said the officer.

"How! it will not be opened when the session is resumed? is there not a recess?"

"The session has just been resumed," answered the officer, "but the door will not be opened again." "Why not?"

"Because the hall is full."

"What! there are no more seats ?"

"Not a single one. The door is closed. No one can

enter."

The officer added, after a silence: "There are indecd two or three places still behind Monsieur the Judge, but

Y

Monsieur the Judge admits none but public functionaries to them."

So saying, the officer turned his back.

He retired with his head bowed down, crossed the antechamber, and walked slowly down the staircase, seeming to hesitate at every step. It is probable that he was holding counsel with himself. The violent combat that had been going on within him since the previous evening was not finished; and, every moment, he fell upon some new turn. When he reached the turn of the stairway, he leaned against the railing and folded his arms. Suddenly he opened his coat, drew out his pocket-book, took out a pencil, tore out a sheet, and wrote rapidly upon that sheet, by the glimmering light, this line: Monsieur Madeleine, Mayor of M sur M; then he went up the stairs again rapidly, passed through the crowd, walked straight to the officer, handed him the paper, and said to him with authority: "Carry that to Monsieur the Judge."

The officer took the paper, cast his eye upon it, and obeyed.

VIII.

ADMISSION BY FAVOUR.

WITHOUT himself suspecting it, the Mayor of M- sur M- had a certain celebrity. For seven years the reputation of his virtue had been extending throughout BasBoulonnais; it had finally crossed the boundaries of the little county, and had spread into the two or three neighbouring departments. Besides the considerable service that he had rendered to the chief town by reviving the manufacture of jet-work, there was not one of the hundred and forty-one communes of the district of Mwhich was not indebted to him for some benefit.

sur M

He had

even in case of need aided and quickened the business of