Page:Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and other profitable tales, 1915.djvu/228

 214 affairs, drew up a report stating that this teacher had no authority over his pupils and concluding that his immediate transference to another school would be advisable. He was sent to a village where a dialect was spoken which he did not understand. Even there he was called Grille-Cul. It was the only French term that was known there.

During my intercourse with Monsieur Thomas I learnt how all evidence given before an examining magistrate comes to be uniform in style. He received me in his room whilst with the assistance of his clerk he was examining a witness. I was about to withdraw, but he begged me to remain, saying that my presence would in no way interfere with a proper administration of justice.

I sat down in a corner and listened to the questions and answers:

"Duval, did you see the accused at six o'clock in the evening?"

"That is to say, Monsieur le Juge, my wife was at the window. Then she said to me: 'There's Socquardot going by!'"

"His presence under your window must have struck her as remarkable since she took the trouble to mention it to you particularly. And did the gait of the accused arouse your suspicion?"