chatting near the gate, about the crime, and the disappearance of
Guespin last night, when all of a sudden, someone perceived him at
a distance, staggering, and singing boisterously, as if he were
drunk."

"Was he really drunk?" asked M. Domini.

"Very," returned the brigadier.

"Then we owe it to the wine that we have caught him, and thus all
will be explained."

"On perceiving this wretch," pursued the gendarme, who seemed not
to have the shadow of a doubt of Guespin's guilt, "Francois, the
count's valet de chambre, and Baptiste, the mayor's servant, who
were there, hastened to meet him, and seized him. He was so tipsy
that he thought they were fooling with him. When he saw my men,
he was undeceived. Just then one of the women cried out, 'Brigand,
it was you who have this night assassinated the count and the
countess!' He immediately became paler than death, and remained
motionless and dumb. Then he began to struggle so violently that
he nearly escaped. Ah! he's strong, the rogue, although he does
not look like it."

"And he said nothing?" said Plantat.

"Not a word; his teeth were so tightly shut with rage that I'm sure
he couldn't say 'bread.' But we've got him. I've searched him,
and this is what I have found in his pockets: a handkerchief, a
pruning-knife, two small keys, a scrap of paper covered with