“He is very much attached to me indeed, just like a poor animal that I might have picked up and cared for.”
“Perhaps so. And still he showed more than mere animal instinct.”
“That may well be so. I have more than once noticed flashes of intelligence in Cocoleu.”
The doctor had taken off his spectacles, and was wiping them furiously.
“It is a great pity that one of these flashes of intelligence did not enlighten him when he saw M. de Boiscoran make a fire and get ready to murder Count Claudieuse.”
The countess leaned against the door-posts, as if about to faint.
“But it is exactly to his excitement at the sight of the flames, and at hearing the shots fired, that I ascribe Cocoleu’s return to reason.”
“May be,” said the doctor, “may be.”
Then putting on his spectacles again, he added,—
“That is a question to be decided by the professional men who will have to examine the poor imbecile creature.”