imprecations.

"The wretches! So noble a mistress! So good a lady!"

M. and Mme. de Tremorel, one could see, were adored by their people.

The countess had just been laid upon the billiard-table, on the
ground-floor, when the judge of instruction and a physician were
announced.

"At last!" sighed the worthy mayor; and in a lower tone he added,
"the finest medals have their reverse."

For the first time in his life, he seriously cursed his ambition,
and regretted being the most important personage in Orcival.



III

The judge of instruction of the tribunal at Corbeil, was M. Antoine
Domini, a remarkable man, since called to higher functions. He was
forty years of age, of a prepossessing person, and endowed with a
very expressive, but too grave physiognomy. In him seemed typified
the somewhat stiff solemnity of the magistracy. Penetrated with the
dignity of his office, he sacrificed his life to it, rejecting the
most simple distractions, and the most innocent pleasures.

He lived alone, seldom showing himself abroad; rarely received his
friends, not wishing, as he said, that the weaknesses of the man