"
"Where did you purchase it?"
"It was given me by M. Simpson as a souvenir."
"Confess that this M. Simpson is a very convenient personage," said the
magistrate coldly. "Still, go on with your story. Only two chambers of
this murderous weapon were discharged, but three men were killed. You
have not told me the end of the affair."
"What's the use?" exclaimed the prisoner, in saddened tones. "Two of my
assailants had fallen; the struggle became an equal one. I seized the
remaining man, the soldier, round the body, and threw him down. He fell
against a corner of the table, and did not rise again."
M. Segmuller had unfolded upon his desk the plan of the Poivriere drawn
by Lecoq. "Come here," he said, addressing the prisoner, "and show me on
this paper the precise spot you and your adversaries occupied."
May obeyed, and with an assurance of manner a little surprising in a man
in his position, he proceeded to explain the drama. "I entered," said
he, "by this door, marked C; I seated myself at the table, H, to the
left of the entrance: my assailants occupied the table between the
fireplace, F, and the window, B."
"I must admit," said the magistrate, "that your assertions fully agree
with the statements of the physicians, who say that one of the shots
must have been fired about a yard off, and the other about two yards
off."
This was a victory for the prisoner, but he only shrugged his shoulders
and murmured: "That proves that the physicians knew their business.
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