Page:Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and other profitable tales, 1915.djvu/239

 Rh "Come then, you must be good and you will get well."

She looked at the doctor with wide eyes full of joy and hope.

"This little girl has been very ill," said Dr. Cabane.

And we passed on.

"What was her offence?"

"It was no mere offence, it was a crime."

"Ah!"

"Infanticide."

At the end of a long corridor, we entered an almost cheerful little room, furnished with cupboards and with windows which, devoid of iron bars, looked on to the country. Here a very pretty young woman was writing at a desk. Standing near her another with a good figure was looking for a key in a bunch hanging from her waist. I might have taken them for the governor's daughters. He informed me that they were two prisoners.

"Did you not notice that they wear prisoner's dress?"

I had not noticed it, doubtless because they did not wear it like the others.

"Their dresses are better made and they wear smaller caps which show their hair."