empty　decanter。
  Monsieur　Hermann　continued　his　narrative　after　the　slight　pause
  occasioned　by　this　interruption。＇
  The　next　morning　Prosper　Magnan　was　awakened　by　a　great　noise。　He
  seemed　to　hear　piercing　cries；　and　he　felt　that　violent　shuddering　of
  the　nerves　which　we　suffer　when　on　awaking　we　continue　to　feel　a
  painful　impression　begun　in　sleep。　A　physiological　fact　then　takes
  place　within　us；　a　start；　to　use　the　common　expression；　which　has
  never　been　sufficiently　observed；　though　it　contains　very　curious
  phenomena　for　science。　This　terrible　agony；　produced；　possibly；　by　the
  too　sudden　reunion　of　our　two　natures　separated　during　sleep；　is
  usually　transient；　but　in　the　poor　young　surgeon's　case　it　lasted；　and
  even　increased；　causing　him　suddenly　the　most　awful　horror　as　he
  beheld　a　pool　of　blood　between　Wahlenfer's　bed　and　his　own　mattress。
  The　head　of　the　unfortunate　German　lay　on　the　ground；　his　body　was
  still　on　the　bed；　all　its　blood　had　flowed　out　by　the　neck。
  Seeing　the　eyes　still　open　but　fixed；　seeing　the　blood　which　had
  stained　his　sheets　and　even　his　hands；　recognizing　his　own　surgical
  instrument　beside　him；　Prosper　Magnan　fainted　and　fell　into　the　pool
  of　Wahlenfer's　blood。　〃It　was；〃　he　said　to　me；　〃the　punishment　of　my
  thoughts。〃　When　he　recovered　consciousness　he　was　in　the　public　room；
  seated　on　a　chair；　surrounded　by　French　soldiers；　and　in　presence　of　a
  curious　and　observing　crowd。　He　gazed　stupidly　at　a　Republican　officer
  engaged　in　taking　the　testimony　of　several　witnesses；　and　in　writing
  down；　no　doubt；　the　〃proces…verbal。〃　He　recognized　the　landlord；　his
  wife；　the　two　boatmen；　and　the　servant　of　the　Red　Inn。　The　surgical
  instrument　which　the　murderer　had　used
  ＇Here　Monsieur　Taillefer　coughed；　drew　out　his　handkerchief　to　blow
  his　nose；　and　wiped　his　forehead。　These　perfectly　natural　motions　were
  noticed　by　me　only；　the　other　guests　sat　with　their　eyes　fixed　on
  Monsieur　Hermann；　to　whom　they　were　listening　with　a　sort　of　avidity。
  The　purveyor　leaned　his　elbow　on　the　table；　put　his　head　into　his
  right　hand　and　gazed　fixedly　at　Hermann。　From　that　moment　he　showed　no
  other　sign　of　emotion　or　interest；　but　his　face　remained　passive　and
  ghastly；　as　it　was　when　I　first　saw　him　playing　with　the　stopper　of
  the　decanter。＇
  The　surgical　instrument　which　the　murderer　had　used　was　on　the　table
  with　the　case　containing　the　rest　of　the　instruments；　together　with
  Prosper's　purse　and　papers。　The　gaze　of　the　assembled　crowd　turned
  alternately　from　these　convicting　articles　to　the　young　man；　who
  seemed　to　be　dying　and　whose　half…extinguished　eyes　apparently　saw
  nothing。　A　confused　murmur　which　was　heard　without　proved　the　presence
  of　a　crowd；　drawn　to　the　neighborhood　of　the　inn　by　the　news　of　the
  crime；　and　also　perhaps　by　a　desire　to　see　the　murderer。　The　step　of
  the　sentries　placed　beneath　the　windows　of　the　public　room　and　the
  rattle　of　their　accoutrements　could　be　heard　above　the　talk　of　the
  populace；　but　the　inn　was　closed　and　the　courtyard　was　empty　and
  silent。
  Incapable　of　sustaining　the　glance　of　the　officer　who　was　gathering
  his　testimony；　Prosper　Magnan　suddenly　felt　his　hand　pressed　by　a　man；
  and　he　raised　his　eyes　to　see　who　his　protector　could　be　in　that　crowd
  of　enemies。　He　recognized　by　his　uniform　the　surgeon…major　of　the
  demi…brigade　then　stationed　at　Andernach。　The　glance　of　that　man　was
  so　piercing；　so　stern；　that　the　poor　young　fellow　shuddered；　and
  suffered　his　head　to　fall　on　the　back　of　his　chair。　A　soldier　put
  vinegar　to　his　nostrils　and　he　recovered　consciousness。　Nevertheless
  his　haggard　eyes　were　so　devoid　of　life　and　intelligence　that　the
  surgeon　said　to　the　officer　after　feeling　Prosper's　pulse；
  〃Captain；　it　is　impossible　to　question　the　man　at　this　moment。〃
  〃Very　well！　Take　him　away；〃　replied　the　captain；　interrupting　the
  surgeon；　and　addressing　a　corporal　who　stood　behind　the　prisoner。　〃You
  cursed　coward！〃　he　went　on；　speaking　to　Prosper　in　a　low　voice；　〃try
  at　least　to　walk　firmly　before　these　German　curs；　and　save　the　honor
  of　the　Republic。〃
  This　address　seemed　to　wake　up　Prosper　Magnan；　who　rose　and　made　a　few
  steps　forward；　but　when　the　door　was　opened　and　he　felt　the　fresh　air
  and　saw　the　crowd　before　him；　he　staggered　and　his　knees　gave　way
  under　him。
  〃This　coward　of　a　sawbones　deserves　a　dozen　deaths！　Get　on！〃　cried　the
  two　soldiers　who　had　him　in　charge；　lending　him　their　arms　to　support
  him。
  〃There　he　is！oh；　the　villain！　the　coward！　Here　he　is！　There　he　is！〃
  These　cries　seemed　to　be　uttered　by　a　single　voice；　the　tumultuous
  voice　of　the　crowd　which　followed　him　with　insults　and　swelled　at
  every　step。　During　the　passage　from　the　inn　to　the　prison；　the　noise
  made　by　the　tramping　of　the　crowd　and　the　soldiers；　the　murmur　of　the
  various　colloquies；　the　sight　of　the　sky；　the　coolness　of　the　air；　the
  aspect　of　Andernach　and　the　shimmering　of　the　waters　of　the　Rhine；
  these　impressions　came　to　the　soul　of　the　young　man　vaguely；
  confusedly；　torpidly；　like　all　the　sensations　he　had　felt　since　his
  waking。　There　were　moments；　he　said；　when　he　thought　he　was　no　longer
  living。
  I　was　then　in　prison。　Enthusiastic；　as　we　all　are　at　twenty　years　of
  age；　I　wished　to　defend　my　country；　and　I　commanded　a　company　of　free
  lances；　which　I　had　organized　in　the　vicinity　of　Andernach。　A　few　days
  before　these　events　I　had　fallen　plump；　during　the　night；　into　a
  French　detachment　of　eight　hundred　men。　We　were　two　hundred　at　the
  most。　My　scouts　had　sold　me。　I　was　thrown　into　the　prison　of
  Andernach；　and　they　talked　of　shooting　me；　as　a　warning　to　intimidate
  others。　The　French　talked　also　of　reprisals。　My　father；　however；
  obtained　a　reprieve　for　three　days　to　give　him　time　to　see　General
  Augereau；　whom　he　knew；　and　ask　for　my　pardon；　which　was　granted。　Thus
  it　happened　that　I　saw　Prosper　Magnan　when　he　was　brought　to　the
  prison。　He　inspired　me　with　the　profoundest　pity。　Though　pale；
  distracted；　and　covered　with　blood；　his　whole　countenance　had　a
  character　of　truth　and　innocence　which　struck　me　forcibly。　To　me　his
  long　fair　hair　and　clear　blue　eyes　seemed　German。　A　true　image　of　my
  hapless　country。　I　felt　he　was　a　victim　and　not　a　murderer。　At　the
  moment　when　he　passed　beneath　my　window　he　chanced　to　cast　about　him
  the　painful；　melancholy　smile　of　an　insane　man　who　suddenly　recovers
  for　a　time　a　fleeting　gleam　of　reason。　That　smile　was　assuredly　not
  the　smile　of　a　murderer。　When　I　saw　the　jailer　I　questioned　him　about
  his　new　prisoner。
  〃He　has　not　spoken　since　I　put　him　in　his　cell；〃　answered　the　man。　〃He
  is　sitting　down　with　his　head　in　his　hands　and　is　either　sleeping　or
  reflecting　about　his　crime。　The　French　say　he'll　get　his　reckoning　to…
  morrow　morning　and　be　shot　in　twenty…four　hours。〃
  That　evening　I　stopped　short　under　the　window　of　the　prison　during　the
  short　time　I　was　allowed　to　take　exercise　in　the　prison　yard。　We
  talked　together；　and　he　frankly　related　to　me　his　strange　affair；
  replying　with　evident　truthfulness　to　my　various　questions。　After　that
  first　conversation　I　no　longer　doubted　his　innocence；　I　asked；　and
  obtained　the　favor　of　staying　several　hours　with　him。　I　saw　him　again
  at　intervals；　and　the　poor　lad　let　me　in　without　concealment　to　all
  his　thoughts。　He　believed　himself　both　innocent　and　guilty。
  Remembering　the　horrible　temptation　which　he　had　had　the　strength　to
  resist；　he　feared　he　might　have　done　in　sleep；　in　a　fit　of
  somnambulism；　the　crime　he　had　dreamed　of　awake。
  〃But　your　companion？〃　I　said　to　him。
  〃Oh！〃　he　cried　eagerly。　〃Wilhelm　is　incapable　of〃
  He　did　not　even　finish　his　sentence。　At　that　warm　defence；　so　full　of
  youth　and　manly　virtue；　I　pressed　his　hand。
  〃When　he　woke；〃　continued　Prosper；　〃he　must　have　been　terrified　and
  lost　his　head；　no　doubt　he　fled。〃
  〃Without　awaking　you？〃　I　said。　〃Then　surely　your　defence　is　easy；
  Wahlenfer's　valise　cannot　have　been　stolen。〃
  Suddenly　he　burst　into　tears。
  〃Oh；　yes！〃　he　cried；　〃I　am　innocent！　I　have　not　killed　a　man！　I
  remember　my　dreams。　I　was　playing　at　base　with　my　schoolmates。　I
  couldn't　have　cut　off　the　head　of　a　man　while　I　dreamed　I　was
  running。〃
  Then；　in　spite　of　these　gleams　of　hope；　which　gave　him　at　times　some
  calmness；　he　felt　a　remorse　which　crushed　him。　He　had；　beyond　all
  question；　raised　his　arm　to　kill　that　man。　He　judged　himself；　and　he
  felt　that　his　heart　was　not　innocent　after　committing　that　crime　in
  his　mind。
  〃And　yet；　I　AM　good！〃　he　cried。　〃Oh；　my　poor　mother！　Perhaps　at　this
  moment　she　is　cheerfully　playing　boston　with　the　neighbors　in　her
  little　tapestry　salon。　If　she　knew　that　I　had　raised　my　hand　to　murder
  a　manoh！　she　would　die　of　it！　And　I　AM　in　prison；　accused　of
  committing　that　crime！　If　I　have　not　killed　a　man；　I　have　certainly
  killed　my　mother！〃
  Saying　these　words　he　wept　no　longer；　he　was　seized　by　that　sho