"What an old actress!"
he muttered to himself, and, glancing at Lecoq, he perceived the same
thought sparkling in the young detective's eyes. It is true that the
magistrate's penetration may have been due to some notes he had just
perused--notes containing an abstract of the woman's former life, and
furnished by the chief of police at the magistrate's request.
With a gesture of authority M. Segmuller warned Goguet, the clerk with
the silly smile, to get his writing materials ready. He then turned
toward the Widow Chupin. "Your name?" he asked in a sharp tone.
"Aspasie Claperdty, my maiden name," replied the old woman, "and to-day,
the Widow Chupin, at your service, sir;" so saying, she made a low
courtesy, and then added: "A lawful widow, you understand, sir; I have
my marriage papers safe in my chest at home; and if you wish to send any
one--"
"Your age?" interrupted the magistrate.
"Fifty-four."
"Your profession?"
"Dealer in wines and spirits outside of Paris, near the Rue du
Chateau-des-Rentiers, just beyond the fortifications."
A prisoner's examination always begins with these questions as to
individuality, which gives both the magistrate and the culprit time
to study each other, to try, as it were, each other's strength, before
joining in a serious struggle; just as two duelists, about to engage in
mortal combat, first try a few passes with the foils.
"Now," resumed M. Segmuller, "we will note your antecedents. Have you
not already been found guilty of several offenses?"
The Widow Chupin was too well versed in criminal procedure to be
ignorant of those famous records which render the denial of identity
such a difficult matter in France.
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