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empty decanter。
Monsieur Hermann continued his narrative after the slight pause
occasioned by this interruption。＇
The next morning Prosper Magnan was awakened by a great noise。 He
seemed to hear piercing cries； and he felt that violent shuddering of
the nerves which we suffer when on awaking we continue to feel a
painful impression begun in sleep。 A physiological fact then takes
place within us； a start； to use the common expression； which has
never been sufficiently observed； though it contains very curious
phenomena for science。 This terrible agony； produced； possibly； by the
too sudden reunion of our two natures separated during sleep； is
usually transient； but in the poor young surgeon's case it lasted； and
even increased； causing him suddenly the most awful horror as he
beheld a pool of blood between Wahlenfer's bed and his own mattress。
The head of the unfortunate German lay on the ground； his body was
still on the bed； all its blood had flowed out by the neck。
Seeing the eyes still open but fixed； seeing the blood which had
stained his sheets and even his hands； recognizing his own surgical
instrument beside him； Prosper Magnan fainted and fell into the pool
of Wahlenfer's blood。 〃It was；〃 he said to me； 〃the punishment of my
thoughts。〃 When he recovered consciousness he was in the public room；
seated on a chair； surrounded by French soldiers； and in presence of a
curious and observing crowd。 He gazed stupidly at a Republican officer
engaged in taking the testimony of several witnesses； and in writing
down； no doubt； the 〃proces…verbal。〃 He recognized the landlord； his
wife； the two boatmen； and the servant of the Red Inn。 The surgical
instrument which the murderer had used
＇Here Monsieur Taillefer coughed； drew out his handkerchief to blow
his nose； and wiped his forehead。 These perfectly natural motions were
noticed by me only； the other guests sat with their eyes fixed on
Monsieur Hermann； to whom they were listening with a sort of avidity。
The purveyor leaned his elbow on the table； put his head into his
right hand and gazed fixedly at Hermann。 From that moment he showed no
other sign of emotion or interest； but his face remained passive and
ghastly； as it was when I first saw him playing with the stopper of
the decanter。＇
The surgical instrument which the murderer had used was on the table
with the case containing the rest of the instruments； together with
Prosper's purse and papers。 The gaze of the assembled crowd turned
alternately from these convicting articles to the young man； who
seemed to be dying and whose half…extinguished eyes apparently saw
nothing。 A confused murmur which was heard without proved the presence
of a crowd； drawn to the neighborhood of the inn by the news of the
crime； and also perhaps by a desire to see the murderer。 The step of
the sentries placed beneath the windows of the public room and the
rattle of their accoutrements could be heard above the talk of the
populace； but the inn was closed and the courtyard was empty and
silent。
Incapable of sustaining the glance of the officer who was gathering
his testimony； Prosper Magnan suddenly felt his hand pressed by a man；
and he raised his eyes to see who his protector could be in that crowd
of enemies。 He recognized by his uniform the surgeon…major of the
demi…brigade then stationed at Andernach。 The glance of that man was
so piercing； so stern； that the poor young fellow shuddered； and
suffered his head to fall on the back of his chair。 A soldier put
vinegar to his nostrils and he recovered consciousness。 Nevertheless
his haggard eyes were so devoid of life and intelligence that the
surgeon said to the officer after feeling Prosper's pulse；
〃Captain； it is impossible to question the man at this moment。〃
〃Very well！ Take him away；〃 replied the captain； interrupting the
surgeon； and addressing a corporal who stood behind the prisoner。 〃You
cursed coward！〃 he went on； speaking to Prosper in a low voice； 〃try
at least to walk firmly before these German curs； and save the honor
of the Republic。〃
This address seemed to wake up Prosper Magnan； who rose and made a few
steps forward； but when the door was opened and he felt the fresh air
and saw the crowd before him； he staggered and his knees gave way
under him。
〃This coward of a sawbones deserves a dozen deaths！ Get on！〃 cried the
two soldiers who had him in charge； lending him their arms to support
him。
〃There he is！oh； the villain！ the coward！ Here he is！ There he is！〃
These cries seemed to be uttered by a single voice； the tumultuous
voice of the crowd which followed him with insults and swelled at
every step。 During the passage from the inn to the prison； the noise
made by the tramping of the crowd and the soldiers； the murmur of the
various colloquies； the sight of the sky； the coolness of the air； the
aspect of Andernach and the shimmering of the waters of the Rhine；
these impressions came to the soul of the young man vaguely；
confusedly； torpidly； like all the sensations he had felt since his
waking。 There were moments； he said； when he thought he was no longer
living。
I was then in prison。 Enthusiastic； as we all are at twenty years of
age； I wished to defend my country； and I commanded a company of free
lances； which I had organized in the vicinity of Andernach。 A few days
before these events I had fallen plump； during the night； into a
French detachment of eight hundred men。 We were two hundred at the
most。 My scouts had sold me。 I was thrown into the prison of
Andernach； and they talked of shooting me； as a warning to intimidate
others。 The French talked also of reprisals。 My father； however；
obtained a reprieve for three days to give him time to see General
Augereau； whom he knew； and ask for my pardon； which was granted。 Thus
it happened that I saw Prosper Magnan when he was brought to the
prison。 He inspired me with the profoundest pity。 Though pale；
distracted； and covered with blood； his whole countenance had a
character of truth and innocence which struck me forcibly。 To me his
long fair hair and clear blue eyes seemed German。 A true image of my
hapless country。 I felt he was a victim and not a murderer。 At the
moment when he passed beneath my window he chanced to cast about him
the painful； melancholy smile of an insane man who suddenly recovers
for a time a fleeting gleam of reason。 That smile was assuredly not
the smile of a murderer。 When I saw the jailer I questioned him about
his new prisoner。
〃He has not spoken since I put him in his cell；〃 answered the man。 〃He
is sitting down with his head in his hands and is either sleeping or
reflecting about his crime。 The French say he'll get his reckoning to…
morrow morning and be shot in twenty…four hours。〃
That evening I stopped short under the window of the prison during the
short time I was allowed to take exercise in the prison yard。 We
talked together； and he frankly related to me his strange affair；
replying with evident truthfulness to my various questions。 After that
first conversation I no longer doubted his innocence； I asked； and
obtained the favor of staying several hours with him。 I saw him again
at intervals； and the poor lad let me in without concealment to all
his thoughts。 He believed himself both innocent and guilty。
Remembering the horrible temptation which he had had the strength to
resist； he feared he might have done in sleep； in a fit of
somnambulism； the crime he had dreamed of awake。
〃But your companion？〃 I said to him。
〃Oh！〃 he cried eagerly。 〃Wilhelm is incapable of〃
He did not even finish his sentence。 At that warm defence； so full of
youth and manly virtue； I pressed his hand。
〃When he woke；〃 continued Prosper； 〃he must have been terrified and
lost his head； no doubt he fled。〃
〃Without awaking you？〃 I said。 〃Then surely your defence is easy；
Wahlenfer's valise cannot have been stolen。〃
Suddenly he burst into tears。
〃Oh； yes！〃 he cried； 〃I am innocent！ I have not killed a man！ I
remember my dreams。 I was playing at base with my schoolmates。 I
couldn't have cut off the head of a man while I dreamed I was
running。〃
Then； in spite of these gleams of hope； which gave him at times some
calmness； he felt a remorse which crushed him。 He had； beyond all
question； raised his arm to kill that man。 He judged himself； and he
felt that his heart was not innocent after committing that crime in
his mind。
〃And yet； I AM good！〃 he cried。 〃Oh； my poor mother！ Perhaps at this
moment she is cheerfully playing boston with the neighbors in her
little tapestry salon。 If she knew that I had raised my hand to murder
a manoh！ she would die of it！ And I AM in prison； accused of
committing that crime！ If I have not killed a man； I have certainly
killed my mother！〃
Saying these words he wept no longer； he was seized by that sho