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310 "'I think that was the name I heard,' said the artizan; 'I was passing the maison forte as the criminal was carried in, and I inquired of the people that were standing by, what he had done.'

"'And what was it?' said Rodolphe and the old woman together.

"'Broken into the house of this Monsieur Bruneau, as I understood,' replied the artizan, 'for the purpose of robbing him, and meeting with some resistance he attempted to murder the old gentleman, who, however, succeeded in securing the villain, and kept him fast till the arrival of the police.'

"The eyes of Rodolphe and the old woman met, and astonishment was depicted on the countenances of both.

"'And this was last night?' inquired Rodolphe.

"'Précisément,' said the artizan, 'they were taking him to prison as I passed to my work this morning.'

"'What sort of person was the criminal?' inquired Rodolphe.

"A little manyoungperhaps five-and-twenty,' returned the artizan.

"The old woman and Rodolphe were evidently