"I know that you are a bright fellow, full of experience. Doctor
Gendron, with whom you served, was praising your cleverness a moment
ago."
The bone-setter shuddered, not so imperceptibly as to escape Plantat,
who continued: "Yes, the good doctor said he never had so intelligent an
assistant. 'Robelot,' said he, 'has such an aptitude for chemistry, and
so much taste for it besides, that he understands as well as I many of
the most delicate operations.'"
"Parbleu! I did my best, for I was well paid, and I was always fond of
learning."
"And you were an apt scholar at Doctor Gendron's, Master Robelot; he
makes some very curious studies. His work and experience on poisons are
above all remarkable."
Robelot's uneasiness became apparent; his look wavered.
"Yes;" returned he, "I have seen some strange experiments."
"Well, you see, you may think yourself lucky--for the doctor is going to
have a splendid chance to study this sort of thing, and he will
undoubtedly want you to assist him."
But Robelot was too shrewd not to have already guessed that this
cross-examination had a purpose. What was M. Plantat after? he asked
himself, not without a vague terror. And, going over in his mind the
questions which had been asked, and the answers he had given, and to
what these questions led, he trembled. He thought to escape further
questioning by saying:
"I am always at my old master's orders when he needs me."
"He'll need you, be assured," said M. Plantat, who added, in a careless
tone, which his rapid glance at Robelot belied, "The interest attaching
to this case will be intense, and the task difficult. Monsieur
Sauvresy's body is to be disinterred."
Robelot was certainly prepared for something strange, and he was armed
with all his audacity. But the name of Sauvresy fell upon his head like
the stroke of a club, and he stammered, in a choked voice:
"Sauvresy!"
M. Plantat had already turned his head, and continued in an indifferent
tone:
"Yes, Sauvresy is to be exhumed. It is suspected that his death was not
wholly a natural one. You see, justice always has its suspicions."
Robelot leaned against the wall so as not to fall. M. Plantat proceeded:
"So Doctor Gendron has been applied to. He has, as you know, found
reactive drugs which betray the presence of an alkaloid, whatever it may
be, in the substances submitted to him for analysis. He has spoken to me
of a certain sensitive paper--"
Appealing to all his energy, Robelot forced himself to stand up and
resume a calm countenance.
"I know Doctor Gendron's process," said he, "but I don't see who could
be capable of the suspicions of which you speak."
"I think there are more than suspicions," resumed M. Plantat. "Madame de
Tremorel, you know, has been murdered: her papers have, of course, been
examined; letters have been found, with very damaging revelations,
receipts, and so on."
Robelot, apparently, was once more self-possessed; he forced himself to
answer:
"Bast! let us hope that justice is in the wrong."
Then, such was this man's self-control, despite a nervous trembling
which shook his whole body as the wind does the leaves, that he added,
constraining his thin lips to form a smile:
"Madame Courtois does not come down; I am waited for at home, and will
drop in again to-morrow. Good-evening, gentlemen."
He walked away, and soon the sand in the court was heard creaking with
his steps. As he went, he staggered like a drunken man.