beneath the staircase must have been the blood of La Carconte. I pointed
to the spot where I had concealed myself.
“‘What does he mean?’ asked a gendarme.
“One of the officers went to the place I directed.
“‘He means,’ replied the man upon his return, ‘that he got in that way;’
and he showed the hole I had made when I broke through.
“Then I saw that they took me for the assassin. I recovered force and
energy enough to free myself from the hands of those who held me, while
I managed to stammer forth:
“‘I did not do it! Indeed, indeed I did not!’
“A couple of gendarmes held the muzzles of their carbines against my
breast.
“‘Stir but a step,’ said they, ‘and you are a dead man.’
“‘Why should you threaten me with death,’ cried I, ‘when I have already
declared my innocence?’
“‘Tu
