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killed my mother！〃
Saying these words he wept no longer； he was seized by that short and
rapid madness known to the men of Picardy； he sprang to the wall； and
if I had not caught him； he would have dashed out his brains against
it。
〃Wait for your trial；〃 I said。 〃You are innocent； you will certainly
be acquitted； think of your mother。〃
〃My mother！〃 he cried frantically； 〃she will hear of the accusation
before she hears anything else；it is always so in little towns； and
the shock will kill her。 Besides； I am not innocent。 Must I tell you
the whole truth？ I feel that I have lost the virginity of my
conscience。〃
After that terrible avowal he sat down； crossed his arms on his
breast； bowed his head upon it； gazing gloomily on the ground。 At this
instant the turnkey came to ask me to return to my room。 Grieved to
leave my companion at a moment when his discouragement was so deep； I
pressed him in my arms with friendship； saying：
〃Have patience； all may yet go well。 If the voice of an honest man can
still your doubts； believe that I esteem you and trust you。 Accept my
friendship； and rest upon my heart； if you cannot find peace in your
own。〃
The next morning a corporal's guard came to fetch the young surgeon at
nine o'clock。 Hearing the noise made by the soldiers； I stationed
myself at my window。 As the prisoner crossed the courtyard； he cast
his eyes up to me。 Never shall I forget that look； full of thoughts；
presentiments； resignation； and I know not what sad； melancholy grace。
It was； as it were； a silent but intelligible last will by which a man
bequeathed his lost existence to his only friend。 The night must have
been very hard； very solitary for him； and yet； perhaps； the pallor of
his face expressed a stoicism gathered from some new sense of self…
respect。 Perhaps he felt that his remorse had purified him； and
believed that he had blotted out his fault by his anguish and his
shame。 He now walked with a firm step； and since the previous evening
he had washed away the blood with which he was； involuntarily；
stained。
〃My hands must have dabbled in it while I slept； for I am always a
restless sleeper；〃 he had said to me in tones of horrible despair。
I learned that he was on his way to appear before the council of war。
The division was to march on the following morning； and the
commanding…officer did not wish to leave Andernach without inquiry
into the crime on the spot where it had been committed。 I remained in
the utmost anxiety during the time the council lasted。 At last； about
mid…day； Prosper Magnan was brought back。 I was then taking my usual
walk； he saw me； and came and threw himself into my arms。
〃Lost！〃 he said； 〃lost； without hope！ Here； to all the world； I am a
murderer。〃 He raised his head proudly。 〃This injustice restores to me
my innocence。 My life would always have been wretched； my death leaves
me without reproach。 But is there a future？〃
The whole eighteenth century was in that sudden question。 He remained
thoughtful。
〃Tell me；〃 I said to him； 〃how you answered。 What did they ask you？
Did you not relate the simple facts as you told them to me？〃
He looked at me fixedly for a moment； then； after that awful pause； he
answered with feverish excitement：
〃First they asked me； 'Did you leave the inn during the night？' I
said； 'Yes。' 'How？' I answered； 'By the window。' 'Then you must have
taken great precautions； the innkeeper heard no noise。' I was
stupefied。 The sailors said they saw me walking； first to Andernach；
then to the forest。 I made many trips； they said； no doubt to bury the
gold and diamonds。 The valise had not been found。 My remorse still
held me dumb。 When I wanted to speak； a pitiless voice cried out to
me； 'YOU MEANT TO COMMIT THAT CRIME！' All was against me； even myself。
They asked me about my comrade； and I completely exonerated him。 Then
they said to me： 'The crime must lie between you； your comrade； the
innkeeper； and his wife。 This morning all the windows and doors were
found securely fastened。' At those words；〃 continued the poor fellow；
〃I had neither voice； nor strength； nor soul to answer。 More sure of
my comrade than I could be of myself； I could not accuse him。 I saw
that we were both thought equally guilty of the murder； and that I was
considered the most clumsy。 I tried to explain the crime by
somnambulism； and so protect my friend； but there I rambled and
contradicted myself。 No； I am lost。 I read my condemnation in the eyes
of my judges。 They smiled incredulously。 All is over。 No more
uncertainty。 To…morrow I shall be shot。 I am not thinking of myself；〃
he went on after a pause； 〃but of my poor mother。〃 Then he stopped；
looked up to heaven； and shed no tears； his eyes were dry and strongly
convulsed。 〃Frederic〃
＇〃Ah！ true；〃 cried Monsieur Hermann； with an air of triumph。 〃Yes； the
other's name was Frederic； Frederic！ I remember now！〃
My neighbor touched my foot； and made me a sign to look at Monsieur
Taillefer。 The former purveyor had negligently dropped his hand over
his eyes； but between the interstices of his fingers we thought we
caught a darkling flame proceeding from them。
〃Hein？〃 she said in my ear； 〃what if his name were Frederic？〃
I answered with a glance； which said to her： 〃Silence！〃
Hermann continued：＇
〃Frederic！〃 cried the young surgeon； 〃Frederic basely deserted me。 He
must have been afraid。 Perhaps he is still hidden in the inn； for our
horses were both in the courtyard this morning。 What an
incomprehensible mystery！〃 he went on； after a moment's silence。
〃Somnambulism！ somnambulism？ I never had but one attack in my life；
and that was when I was six years old。 Must I go from this earth；〃 he
cried； striking the ground with his foot； 〃carrying with me all there
is of friendship in the world？ Shall I die a double death； doubting a
fraternal love begun when we were only five years old； and continued
through school and college？ Where is Frederic？〃
He wept。 Can it be that we cling more to a sentiment than to life？
〃Let us go in；〃 he said； 〃I prefer to be in my cell。 I do not wish to
be seen weeping。 I shall go courageously to death； but I cannot play
the heroic at all moments； I own I regret my beautiful young life。 All
last night I could not sleep； I remembered the scenes of my childhood；
I fancied I was running in the fields。 Ah！ I had a future；〃 he said；
suddenly interrupting himself； 〃and now； twelve men； a sub…lieutenant
shouting 'Carry…arms； aim； fire！' a roll of drums； and infamy！ that's
my future now。 Oh！ there must be a God； or it would all be too
senseless。〃
Then he took me in his arms and pressed me to him with all his
strength。
〃You are the last man； the last friend to whom I can show my soul。 You
will be set at liberty； you will see your mother！ I don't know whether
you are rich or poor； but no matter！ you are all the world to me。 They
won't fight always； 'ceux…ci。' Well； when there's peace； will you go
to Beauvais？ If my mother has survived the fatal news of my death； you
will find her there。 Say to her the comforting words； 'He was
innocent！' She will believe you。 I am going to write to her； but you
must take her my last look； you must tell her that you were the last
man whose hand I pressed。 Oh； she'll love you； the poor woman！ you； my
last friend。 Here；〃 he said； after a moment's silence； during which he
was overcome by the weight of his recollections； 〃all； officers and
soldiers； are unknown to me； I am an object of horror to them。 If it
were not for you my innocence would be a secret between God and
myself。〃
I swore to sacredly fulfil his last wishes。 My words； the emotion I
showed touched him。 Soon after that the soldiers came to take him
again before the council of war。 He was condemned to death。 I am
ignorant of the formalities that followed or accompanied this
judgment； nor do I know whether the young surgeon defended his life or
not； but he expected to be executed on the following day； and he spent
the night in writing to his mother。
〃We shall both be free to…day；〃 he said； smiling； when I went to see
him the next morning。 〃I am told that the general has signed your
pardon。〃
I was silent； and looked at him closely so as to carve his features；
as it were； on my memory。 Presently an expression of disgust crossed
his face。
〃I have been very cowardly；〃 he said。 〃During all last night I begged
for mercy of these walls；〃 and he pointed to the sides of his dungeon。
〃Yes； yes； I howled with despair； I rebelled； I suffered the most
awful moral agonyI was alone！ Now I think of what others will say of
me。 Courage is a garment to put on。 I desire to go decently to death；
therefore〃
A DOUBLE RETRIBUTION
〃Oh； stop！ stop！〃 cried the young lady who had asked for this history；
interrupting the narrator suddenly。 〃Say no more； let me remain i