It was an imposing poster, headed in great black capitals, "Court of
Assize," and was the public announcement that Henri Pirlot had been
sentenced to death by that tribunal for the wilful murder of his wife,
Mariette, at a cottage near Spoel. It further stated that the condemned
man had confessed that the cause of the crime was jealousy. He was
intoxicated, and having discovered his wife kissing a strange man who
had visited her in his absence, he went in and deliberately stabbed her
to the heart!
"What a pair of idiots!" exclaimed Clementine, with a light laugh, as
she read the notice. "The idea of killing a woman because she kissed
her lover! Again, what a simpleton the woman was not to have been more
wary! But--why--what's the matter, Theophile? You stand there gazing
and looking as scared as if you'd seen a ghost. Any one would think
_you_ knew the rustic beauty, and were the strange lover!"
I started. A sickening sensation crept over me. The actress had little
idea it was the terrible truth she uttered. I pleaded that I was not
feeling well, and we left the building.