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“WhereisAgathe？“
“Soundasleep。“
“Ah！somuchthebetter，“saidMadameHochon。“Iwishshemaysleepontillthematterisclearedup。Suchashockmightkillthepoorchild。“
ButAgathewokeupandcamedownhalf-dressed；fortheevasiveanswersofGritte，whomshequestioned，haddisturbedbothherheadandheart。
ShefoundMadameHochon，lookingverypale，withhereyesfulloftears，atoneofthewindowsofthesalonbesideherhusband。
“Courage，mychild。Godsendsusourafflictions，“saidtheoldlady。
“Josephisaccused——“
“Ofwhat？“
“Ofabadactionwhichhecouldneverhavecommitted，“answeredMadameHochon。
Hearingthewords，andseeingthelieutenantofgendarmes，whoatthismomententeredtheroomaccompaniedbythetwogentlemen，Agathefaintedaway。
“Therenow！“saidMonsieurHochontohiswifeandGritte，“carryoffMadameBridau；womenareonlyinthewayatthesetimes。Takehertoherroomandstaythere，bothofyou。Sitdown，gentlemen，“continuedtheoldman。“Themistaketowhichweoweyourvisitwillsoon，I
hope，beclearedup。“
“Evenifitshouldbeamistake，“saidMonsieurMouilleron，“theexcitementofthecrowdissogreat，andtheirmindsaresoexasperated，thatIfearforthesafetyoftheaccused。Ishouldliketogethimarrested，andthatmightsatisfythesepeople。“
“WhowouldeverhavebelievedthatMonsieurMaxenceGilethadinspiredsomuchaffectioninthistown？“askedLousteau-Prangin。
“Oneofmymensaysthere’sacrowdoftwelvehundredmorejustcominginfromthefaubourgdeRome，“saidthelieutenantofgendarmes，“andtheyarethreateningdeathtotheassassin。“
“Whereisyourguest？“saidMonsieurMouillerontoMonsieurHochon。
“Hehasgonetowalkinthecountry，Ibelieve。“
“CallGritte，“saidthejudgegravely。“Iwasinhopeshehadnotleftthehouse。Youareawarethatthecrimewascommittednotfarfromhere，atdaybreak。“
WhileMonsieurHochonwenttofindGritte，thethreefunctionarieslookedateachothersignificantly。
“Ineverlikedthatpainter’sface，“saidthelieutenanttoMonsieurMouilleron。
“Mygoodwoman，“saidthejudgetoGritte，whensheappeared，“theysayyousawMonsieurJosephBridauleavethehousethismorning？“
“Yes，monsieur，“sheanswered，tremblinglikealeaf。
“Atwhathour？“
“JustasIwasgettingup:hewalkedabouthisroomallnight，andwasdressedwhenIcamedownstairs。“
“Wasitdaylight？“
“Barely。“
“Didheseemexcited？“
“Yes，hewasallofatwitter。“
“Sendoneofyourmenformyclerk，“saidLousteau-Prangintothelieutenant，“andtellhimtobringwarrantswithhim——“
“GoodGod！don’tbeinsuchahurry，“criedMonsieurHochon。“Theyoungman’sagi
