"Forty or fifty, sir. It was an immense man, with black whiskers, or brown—I don't know exactly which—and a long nose, and green eyes."
"Had he no marks of any kind—scars, for instance?"
"No, I can't remember. Luckily, I screamed so loud, he was frightened; and then I defended myself with my nails. He had a great hammer and pistols. He seized me by the throat. Ah! you know, sir, when one tries to murder you, you have to defend yourself."
"Nothing more natural, more legitimate, my dear madame.—Write, M. Rôth—'The courage and presence of mind of this excellent lady were truly admirable.'"
Then came Annette's turn, who simply declared that she had been so frightened she could remember nothing.
"This will do," said the provost. "If we need to make further inquiry, we will return tomorrow."
The examination being thus ended, every one departed, and I asked Mme. Grédel to give me a room for the night. She did not in the least recollect ever having seen me before.
"Annette," she gasped, "take the gentleman to the little green room in the third story. As for myself, sir, you see I cannot even stand on my legs! O good Lord! good Lord! what does not one have to go through in this world!"
With this she fell to sobbing, which seemed to relieve her.
"Oh, Kasper, Kasper!" cried Annette, when she had taken me to my room, and we were alone, "who would have believed that you were one of the band? I can never, never forgive myself for having loved a brigand!"