Page:Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet and other profitable tales, 1915.djvu/31



III

CRAINQUEBILLE BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES

RESIDENT BOURRICHE devoted six whole minutes to the examination of Crainquebille. This examination would have been more enlightening if the accused had replied to the questions asked him. But Crainquebille was unaccustomed to discussion; and in such a company his lips were sealed by reverence and fear. So he was silent: and the President answered his own question; his replies were staggering. He concluded: “Finally, you admit having said, ‘Mort aux vaches.’”

“I said, ‘Mort aux vaches!’ because the policeman said, ‘Mort aux vaches!’ so then I said ‘Mort aux vaches!’”

He meant that, being overwhelmed by the most unexpected of accusations, he had in his 17