not exactly
famous for cheap bargains. Even some of the jurymen can hardly control
their laughter.

P.--Never mind your reflections on that object. Tell us only what you
know about the peculiarities of this gun.

WITNESS.--Well, thanks to a peculiar arrangement of the cartridges, and
thanks, also, to the special nature of the fulminating material, the
barrels hardly ever become foul.

A.--(Eagerly.) You are mistaken, sir. I have myself cleaned my gun
frequently; and I have, just on the contrary, found the barrels
extremely foul.

WITNESS.--Because you had fired too often. But I mean to say that you
can use up two or three cartridges without a trace being left in the
barrels.

A.--I deny that positively.

P.--(To witness.) And if a dozen cartridges were burnt?

WITNESS.--Oh, then, the barrels would be very foul.

P.--Examine the barrels, and tell us what you see.

WITNESS.--(After a minute examination.) I declare that two cartridges
cannot have been used since the gun was cleaned.

P.--(To the accused.) Well, what becomes of that dozen cartridges which
you have used up to light your cigars, and which had blackened your
hands so badly?

M. MAGLOIRE.--The question is too serious to be left entirely in the
hands of a single witness.

THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY.--We only desire the truth. It is easy to make
an experiment.

WITNESS.--Oh, certainly!

P.--Let it be done.

Witness puts a cartridge into each barrel, and goes to the window to
explode them. The sudden explosion is followed by the screams of several
ladies.

WITNESS.--(Returning, and showing that the barrels are no more foul than
they were before.) Well, you see I was right.

P.--(To the accused.) You see this circumstance on which you relied so
securely, so far from helping you, only proves that your explanation of
the blackened state of your hands was a falsehood.

Upon the president's order, witness is taken out, and the examination of
the accused is continued.

P.--What were your relations with Count Claudieuse?

A.--We had no intercourse with each other.

P.--But it was known all over the country that you hated him?

A.--That is a mistake. I declare, upon my honor, that I always looked
upon him as the best and most honorable of men.

P.--There, at least, you agree with all who knew him. Still you are at
law with him?

A.--I have inherited that suit from my uncle, together with his fortune.
I carried it on, but very quietly. I as