The Mystery of Orcival

the justice of the
peace, he approached the corpse. Although the face could not be
distinguished, both recognized the countess. Both had seen her in
this gray robe, adorned with blue trimmings.

Now, how came she there?

The mayor thought that having succeeded in escaping from the hands
of the murderers, she had fled wildly. They had pursued her, had
caught up with her there, and she had fallen to rise no more. This
version explained the traces of the struggle. It must have been
the count's body that they had dragged across the lawn.

M. Courtois talked excitedly, trying to impose his ideas on the
justice. But M. Plantat hardly listened; you might have thought
him a hundred leagues from Valfeuillu; he only responded by
monosyllables--yes, no, perhaps. And the worthy mayor gave
himself great pains; he went and came, measured steps, minutely
scrutinized the ground.

There was not at this place more than a foot of water. A mud-bank,
upon which grew some clumps of flags and some water-lilies,
descended by a gentle decline from the bank to the middle of the
river. The water was very clear, and there was no current; the
slippery and slimy mire could be distinctly seen.

M. Courtois had gone thus far in his investigations, when he was
struck by a sudden idea.

"Bertaud," said he, "come here."

The old poacher obeyed.

"You say that you saw the body from your boat?"

"Yes, Monsieur Mayor."

"Where is your boat?"

"There, hauled up to that field."

"Well, lead us to it."

It was clear to all that this order had a great effect upon the man.
He trembled and turned pale under his rough skin, tanned as it was
by sun and storm. He was even seen to cast a menacing look toward
his son.

"Let us go," said he at last.

They were returning to the house when the valet proposed to pass
over the ditch. "That will be the quickest way," said he, "I will
go for a ladder which we will put across."

He went off, and quickly reappeared with his improvised foot-bridge.
But at the moment

John Addington Symonds (October 5, 1840 - April 19, 1893) was an English poet and literary critic. He was an early advocate of the validity of male love which included for him pederastic as well as egalitarian relationships, and which he would refer to as lamour de limpossible.

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