Part 38 (2/2)
The police, not content with this, had made her go down to the cellar to find out whether or no there were such things in the second cellar belonging to her store!... Who had been most surprised then? Why who but Mother Toulouche, who, until that very minute, had not known that this second cellar existed! How then was she to know that it communicated with the sewer, still less that the sewer opened on to the Seine, and that by the Seine arrived bales of smuggled goods, which were concealed in her cellar by the smugglers?... Fortunately, the judges had understood this, and after twenty-four hours' detention on suspicion, Mother Toulouche had been set at liberty!
At first, she had declared that she did not know the accused persons summoned to appear that day, the Cooper in particular; to tell the truth, she had made a mistake; she did know them, through having met them a long time ago, when she lived near la Capelle; so long ago was it that she had forgotten all about it! Anyhow, she wanted to have done with the business!
From the very beginning of the trial, Mother Toulouche had been disagreeably struck by the inquisitorial glances and pointed questions of the Public Prosecutor throughout the proceedings. Now, in her turn, the old storekeeper was questioning her audience, trying hard to find out what would be the probable att.i.tude of the magistrate, when she herself should be summoned to the witness-box.
”Witness!... Mother Toulouche!”
Fandor smiled as he listened to the loquacious old storekeeper, for he knew how much faith was to be put in her veracity and respectability!... It was pretty clear that she was every whit as guilty as the handcuffed individuals now in the dock. As she had not been arrested, it simply meant that, in Juve's opinion, this was not an opportune moment to put a stopper on the nefarious activities of this bad old woman.
At this precise moment, Fandor recognised Juve. He was leaving a group of barristers and officials, who had been hugely entertained by his stupid answers and remarks. Yes, it was Juve, so admirably made up and disguised that Fandor had difficulty in recognising him. Here was Cranajour on the scene! He approached Mother Toulouche and stood there--a Cranajour who was the picture of gaping imbecility!
”You, too?” cried Mother Toulouche, looking askance at him. ”Are you one of the witnesses?”
Cranajour's reply was a comical grimace. He scratched his beard, remarking finally:
”I have forgotten! I don't know!”
His audience burst into roars of laughter: Fandor laughed loudest of all!
One of Maitre Henri Robart's juniors whispered in Fandor's ear, with an air of giving the journalist a piece of information worth having.
”A simple-minded soul, that!--a kind of idiot! You can guess that, at the preliminary inquiry, they soon found that out!... He may be heard--or he may not?”
Fandor nodded. He found it difficult not to laugh.
”Thanks many for the information,” he stammered. The young barrister did not understand the ironical tone of our journalist.
Mother Toulouche was envying Cranajour.
”You're in luck, you are--to be too silly to go and talk to those inquisitive fellows in there! Eh?”
Conversations stopped. The little low door, giving entrance to the court, had just opened: an usher announced:
”The case is resumed!... Witnesses this way!... The woman Toulouche?...
It is your turn!...”
They jostled and pushed their way through the narrow entrance in order to get into the court room quickly.
Fandor, however, instead of following the crowd, had grasped the simple Cranajour by the shoulder, and shouted loud enough to be heard by those who might have been surprised at his action.
”You duffer of a Cranajour! Go along with you! You're the man for my money, old fellow! Here's something for a gla.s.s--but come with me for five minutes: I want to interview you and make a jolly good article out of it!”
Fandor went off, followed by the detective. When they were quite away from everyone, Fandor turned quickly to his friend.
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