A Night on the Borders of the Black Forest Part 34

The Countess said that she undoubtedly heard a second.

"Still, might not Madame have been deceived--by an echo, for instance?"

The lady was convinced of the accuracy of her statement.

Here there was a pause of some minutes, during which the lawyers whispered together, and the Lieutenant of Police conferred with the Judge.

He then went on with the examination.

"How long an interval elapsed, Madame, between the two reports?"

"Scarcely a minute, I should think," replied the Countess.

There was another pause. Then the Lieutenant of Police thanked her for her information, and intimated that, for the present, she would not be troubled farther.

Some _gendarmes_ were then summoned, and gave their evidence as follows:--

_Paul Dubourg, gendarme_ in the _Baillage_ of St. Flour. "I have examined the body and firearms of the late Baron, in the presence of M.

le Lieutenant of Police. A musket was found lying beside the body, and a brace of pistols were in his riding-belt. None of these had been discharged. All the pieces were loaded."

_Lieut._ "Should you suppose that the Baron had made any defence?"

_P. Dubourg._ "Evidently none, Monsieur."

_Michel Perrin, gendarme_ in the _Baillage_ of St. Flour, corroborated the testimony of Paul Dubourg.

_Monsieur Berthet_, Surgeon, was then called for. He testified that the Baron de Pradines had died of a fracture of the skull caused by a wound in the temple. The wound was given by a musket-ball, which had struck him three-quarters of an inch above the eyebrow, and entered the brain, He (M. Berthet) had extracted the ball, which he now laid before the Court. From the wound being inflicted in the front of the head, witness concluded that he must have been face to face with the a.s.sa.s.sin. At the same time, the fact of none of his own weapons being used countenanced the probability of a surprise. Could not conceive how it was possible that _two_ shots should have been fired without the Baron's offering any resistance. Had the first taken effect, there was then no need of a second: whereas, if the first failed, the Baron would surely have defended himself against a second. Had no more to say, and left the witness-box.

_Louis Ma.s.son_, groom to Madame de Peyrelade, was next examined.

_Lieut. of Police._ "You were in the stables when Monsieur de Fontane returned on the evening of All Saints' Day?"

_L. Ma.s.son._ "I was, Monsieur le Lieutenant."

_Lieut._ "In what condition was his horse when he arrived?"

_L. Ma.s.son._ "The horse was covered with sweat, and appeared to have been ridden fast. It trembled a good deal likewise, as if it had been frightened, and there were some spots of blood on the chest and knees.

The saddle was also spotted with blood."

_Lieut._ "How did M. de Fontane seem when he rode in?"

_L. Ma.s.son._ "He seemed very much excited, M. le Lieutenant. His neckcloth and waistcoat were stained with blood, and his hand was tied in a handkerchief."

_Lieut._ "Did he make any remarks to you about it?"

_L. Ma.s.son._ "Yes, Monsieur, he laughed a good deal, in a wild sort of way, and said he had been settling a wolf among the mountains."

There was a movement of horror throughout the Court.

_Lieut._ "A wolf? Did you believe him?"

_L. Ma.s.son._ "Why, yes, Monsieur; none of us doubted him, for he's a brave young gentleman, and has killed many a noted wolf in the woods about Pradines, in the old Baron's time. To be sure, when M. le Baron was brought in, soon after, we could not help recollecting the disagreement which they had lately had, and we did think that M. le Chevalier had indeed settled a wolf; but one of another sort. However, I said nothing till Pierre the _boutillier_ spoke out to your wors.h.i.+p in the hall."

_Lieut._ "Bring into court the clothes worn by the Chevalier de Fontane and the firearms that he carried about his person on the evening in question."

A servant here laid some clothes, a musket, and a pair of holsters on the table. The clothes were then carefully examined, The waistcoat, cravat, and s.h.i.+rt-front were spotted in several places with blood. The lawyers shook their heads, and the prisoner's advocate, who had not yet spoken, looked grave and uneasy.

The Lieutenant took up the musket.

"This weapon has been discharged," he said, as he pa.s.sed it to the Judge for inspection.

He then drew the pistols from the holsters, and examined the priming of both.

"Neither of these pistols has been used," he said, as he pa.s.sed them on.

"Both are loaded."

_No second shot, therefore, had been fired._

The Countess clasped her hands, and uttered an exclamation of thankfulness.

"Nay, Madame," whispered the Lieutenant kindly, "we must not begin to hope too soon. This one ambiguous circ.u.mstance will not alone be sufficient to clear our friend. We must have patience and fort.i.tude."

The Prosecutor for the Crown then rose, and summed up the evidence. The substance of his speech was this:--"That the body of George, Baron de Pradines, had been discovered by three servants of the Countess de Peyrelade, lying dead in the valley known as the Val du Rocher Rouge, on the evening of All Saints' Day. It was known that M. de Fontane had had some misunderstanding with the deceased, and had received from him letters of a threatening nature. M. de Fontane had been out all day at Murat, and in returning thence must pa.s.s through that valley. Monsieur de Fontane left Murat at six o'clock, and did not reach the Chateau de Peyrelade till between nine and ten. The journey need not occupy longer than two hours. What had the Chevalier done with the surplus time? He arrives at the Chateau in an excited state, with his clothes blood-stained, and his horse trembling as if from terror and hard riding. His voice is wild, and he says he has killed 'a wolf.' When the body is brought to the Chateau and he is interrogated by M. le Lieutenant, he betrays manifest confusion and alarm. Even the grooms and herdsmen attach suspicion to him; and, as if to cherish the lingering rancour which he entertained against M. de Pradines, both the letters sent to him by that gentleman are found preserved in his writing-case.

Madame la Comtesse affirms that she heard _two_ shots fired on the night of the murder, and only _one_ of M. de Fontane's weapons has been discharged. He felt bound to say that this circ.u.mstance tended to the advantage of the prisoner; but, at the same time, everyone knew that, to a lady in the naturally anxious state of mind of Madame de Peyrelade, every sight and sound becomes magnified. What more likely than that the second shot should be a mere trick of the distempered imagination? The examination of the weapons proved that one shot only could have been fired. Out of four pistols and two muskets--six firearms in all--one only had been discharged; and that was the musket of M. de Fontane. He believed that nothing farther could be said on the subject."

The Judge then asked the prisoner if he had anything to reply.

M. de Fontane rose, pale and self-possessed. He bowed to the Judge, to the Procureur du Roi, and to the Lieutenant of Police.

"My Lord," he said calmly, "I have little to urge in my defence, except to a.s.sever my innocence. I left Murat at six, and set off briskly for the Chateau de Peyrelade. Before half-an-hour had elapsed, the evening became quite dark. Much snow had already fallen, and by the time I entered upon the road across the mountains, the way was not only dark, but slippery for my horse. I dismounted, and led him up the first steep ascent. I thus lost considerable time. When I came down at the opposite side and arrived at the open s.p.a.ce whence five different ways branch off in five different directions, I found myself altogether at fault. I had not travelled this country for many years--the snow had changed the general features of the place, and it was just then quite dark. I thought it best to leave all to the sagacity of the horse, and, remounting, dropped the reins upon his neck, and let him choose his way.

He was as much perplexed as myself. Twice he turned towards the road on our left; then, after a momentary pause, chose a road straight before us. So we went on. The farther we went, however, the more I became convinced that the horse had taken a wrong direction. At last I found that we were entering a thick wood, and as I knew there should be nothing of the kind on the way to the Chateau, I turned the horse's head, and began to retrace our steps. Scarcely had I proceeded a dozen yards on the way back, when I heard a distant howl. The horse stopped instinctively, and we both listened. Again that sound, and nearer! I needed no spur to urge my steed on his flight--that ominous cry was enough. Away he started with me, as if we had not gone a mile that day!

It was of little use; for the wolf gained on us, and at last I descried him about a quarter of a mile behind, coming with savage speed along the snow. I now saw that there was nothing for it but a mortal combat with the brute. So I alighted quietly, and waited for him, a clasp-knife open and ready in my belt, and my gun on the c.o.c.k. I did not tie the horse to a tree, for I thought if the wolf conquered, the poor animal might at least have the chance of escape. The beast was up in less time too than I take to tell it. When within a couple of yards, he stopped, seeing me prepared to receive him. His eyes were red and bright as coals--his sides gaunt--his tongue lolling from his mouth. His hot breath smoked in the frosty air. So we stood for a second or two, face to face--the wolf and I. Then he gave a low howl, and as he sprang towards me, I fired! I hit him--lamed one of his fore-legs; but that only made him more furious, for he was on me again directly, like a tiger! I tried in vain to beat him off with my gun, but he was too strong for me; so I threw it down, got my knife from my belt, and held it between my teeth. As I did so, he snapped at my hand and nearly tore my fingers off. Then I threw my arms round the brute, and fell upon him. It was my last resource--he was under, and if I could only keep him there, and strangle him, or cut his throat, I was safe. It was a frightful moment. My head swam--my breath failed--then I gathered up all my remaining strength, and plunged the knife in his throat! He moaned, his head fell back--the struggle was over--he was dead! I then mounted my horse, who had never once offered to leave me, though he stood trembling all over with terror. I cheered him on--I shouted--I laughed--I sang! I rode like a madman at full speed, and when I reached the Chateau I had not yet recovered from the excitement of the contest. I came out of a death-fight to a brilliant company--from a wolf to a bride, and I was just about to relate my adventure--when--when, my Lord, the corpse of the Baron de Pradines was brought into the room, and I heard myself accused of being his murderer! I have no more to say. I have stated the whole truth. I lost my way, and almost my life. I am innocent, and G.o.d will judge me rightly, however my fellow-men may decide against me."

The young man sat down, flushed with the relation of his combat, and confident in the justice of his cause.

A loud murmur of sympathy and satisfaction ran through the Court, and the prisoner was rewarded for all his sufferings by one glad and loving glance from Marguerite de Peyrelade. Her mind was now relieved of every doubt; and, indeed, with the exception of the lawyers, there was not a soul in the hall who doubted his innocence.

When the murmur had subsided, more witnesses were called.

Antoine Guinot and Elie Blainval, two _gendarmes_, next gave evidence.

_Lieut. of Police._ "Antoine Guinot--you went by my orders to inspect the roads among the mountains."

_A. Guinot._ "Yes, M. le Lieutenant."

_Lieut._ "Did you there discover the body of a dead wolf, or any signs of blood on the snow?"

_A. Guinot._ "No, M. le Lieutenant."