"
"Your treatment depends on your own conduct," rejoined M. Segmuller,
"If you will only remain calm, you shan't be put in a strait-waistcoat
again. But you must promise me that you will be quiet and conduct
yourself properly."
The murderer sadly shook his head. "I shall be very prudent hereafter,"
said he, "but it is terribly hard to stay in prison with nothing to do.
If I had some comrades with me, we could laugh and chat, and the time
would slip by; but it is positively horrible to have to remain alone,
entirely alone, in that cold, damp cell, where not a sound can be
heard."
The magistrate bent over his desk to make a note. The word "comrades"
had attracted his attention, and he proposed to ask the prisoner to
explain it at a later stage of the inquiry.
"If you are innocent," he remarked, "you will soon be released: but it
is necessary to prove your innocence."
"What must I do to prove it?"
"Tell the truth, the whole truth: answer my questions honestly without
reserve."
"As for that, you may depend upon me." As he spoke the prisoner lifted
his hand, as if to call upon God to witness his sincerity.
But M. Segmuller immediately intervened: "Prisoners do not take the
oath," said he.
"Indeed!" ejaculated the man with an astonished air, "that's strange!"
Although the magistrate had apparently paid but little attention to the
prisoner, he had in point of fact carefully noted his attitude, his tone
of voice, his looks and gestures.
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