earlier than that other experiment.
The image--if there was any image--ought to be, in consequence, more
clearly defined than in Dr. Bourion's experiment.

"About 6 o'clock in the evening," thought Bernardet, "and the
photographic light was sufficient."

Dr. Bourion had taken pictures of both of the child's eyes as well as
both of the mother's eyes. The child's eyes showed nothing but hazy
clouds. But the mother's eyes were different. Upon the left eye, next to
a circular section back of the iris, a delicately marked image of a
dog's head appeared. On the same section of the right eye, another
picture; one could see the assassin raising his arm to strike and the
dog leaping to protect his little charge.

"With much good will, it must be confessed," thought Bernardet, looking
again and again at the photograph, "and with much imagination, too. But
it was between fifty and fifty-two hours after the murder that the proof
was taken, while this time it will be while the body is still warm that
the experiment will be tried."

Seventeen times already had Dr. Vernois experimented on animals;
sometimes just after he had strangled them, again when they had died
from Prussic acid. He had held in front of their eyes a simple object
which could be easily recognized. He had taken out the eyes and hurried
with them to the photographer. He had, in order to better expose the
retina to photographic action, made a sort of Maltese cross, by making
four incisions on the edge of the sclerotic. He removed the vitreous
humor, fixed it on a piece of card with four pins and submitted the
retina as quickly as possible to the camera.

In re-reading the learned man's report, Bernardet studied, pored over,
carefully scrutinized the text, investigated the dozen proofs submitted
to the Society of Medical Jurisprudence by Dr. Vernois:

Retina of a cat's eye killed by Prussic acid; Vernois had held the
animal in front of the bars of the cage in which it was confined. No
result!

Retina of a strangled dog's eye. A watch was held in front of its eyes.
No result!

Retina of a dog killed by a strangulation. A bunch of shining keys was
held in front of his eyes. No result!

Retina of the eye of a strangled dog. An eyeglass held in front of its
eyes. Photograph made two hours after death. Nothing! In all Dr.
Vernois's experiments--nothing! Nothing!

Bernardet repeated the word angrily. Still he kept on; he read page
after page. But all this was t