"
"Why not question him? He must know all the frequenters of the
Poivriere, and might perhaps give us valuable information regarding
Gustave, Lacheneur, and the murderer himself. As he is not in solitary
confinement, he has probably heard of his mother's arrest; but it seems
to me impossible that he should suspect our present perplexity."
"Ah! you are a hundred times right!" exclaimed the magistrate. "I ought
to have thought of that myself. In his position he can scarcely have
been tampered with as yet, and I'll have him up here to-morrow morning;
I will also question his wife."
Turning to his clerk, M. Segmuller added: "Quick, Goguet, prepare a
summons in the name of the wife of Hippolyte Chupin, and address an
order to the governor of the Depot to produce her husband!"
But night was coming on. It was already too dark to see to write, and
accordingly the clerk rang the bell for lights. Just as the messenger
who brought the lamps turned to leave the room, a rap was heard at the
door. Immediately afterward the governor of the Depot entered.
During the past twenty-four hours this worthy functionary had been
greatly perplexed concerning the mysterious prisoner he had placed
in secret cell No. 3, and he now came to the magistrate for advice
regarding him. "I come to ask," said he, "if I am still to retain the
prisoner May in solitary confinement?"
"Yes."
"Although I fear fresh attacks of frenzy, I dislike to confine him in
the strait-jacket again.
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