rs, and the weapon in his hand? Peytel's story is
possible, and very possible; it is almost probable. Allow that Rey
had the cloth on, and you allow that he must have been clogged in his
motions; that Peytel may have come up with him--felled him with a blow
of the hammer; the doctors say that he would have so fallen by one
blow--he would have fallen on his face, as he was found: the paper
might have been thrust into his breast, and tumbled out as he fell.
Circumstances far more impossible have occurred ere this; and men have
been hanged for them, who were as innocent of the crime laid to their
charge as the judge on the bench, who convicted them.

In like manner, Peytel may not have committed the crime charged to
him; and Mr. Judge, with his arguments as to possibilities and
impossibilities,--Mr. Public Prosecutor, with his romantic narrative and
inflammatory harangues to the jury,--may have used all these powers to
bring to death an innocent man. From the animus with which the case had
been conducted from beginning to end, it was easy to see the result.
Here it is, in the words of the provincial paper:--

BOURG, 28 October, 1839.

"The condemned Peytel has just undergone his punishment, which took
place four days before the anniversary of his crime. The terrible drama
of the bridge of Andert, which cost the life of two persons, has just
terminated on the scaffold. Mid-day had just sounded on the clock of the
Palais: the same clock tolled midnight when, on the 30th of August, his
sentence was pronounced.

"Since the rejection of his appeal in Cassation, on which his principal
hopes were founded, Peytel spoke little of his petition to the King.
The notion of transportation was that which he seemed to cherish most.
However, he made several inquiries from the gaoler of the prison, when
he saw him at meal-time, with regard to the place of execution, the
usual hour, and other details on the subject. From that period, the
words 'Champ de Foire' (the fair-field, where the execution was to be
held), were frequently used by him in conversation.

"Yesterday, the idea that the time had arrived seemed to be more
strongly than ever impressed upon him; especially after the departure
of the cure, who latterly has been with him every day. The documents
connected with the trial had arrived in the morning. He was ignorant of
this circumstance, but sought to discover from his guardians what
they tried to hide from him; and to find