AND WOUNDS WHICH CAUSED DEATH. That was the heading of the charge
which brought Leopold Renard, upholsterer, before the Assize Court.

Round him were the principal witnesses, Madame Flameche, widow of the
victim, Louis Ladureau, cabinetmaker, and Jean Durdent, plumber.

Near the criminal was his wife, dressed in black, a little ugly woman,
who looked like a monkey dressed as a lady.

This is how Renard described the drama:

"Good heavens, it is a misfortune of which I am the first and last
victim, and with which my will has nothing to do. The facts are their
own commentary, Monsieur le President. I am an honest man, a
hard-working man, an upholsterer in the same street for the last
sixteen years, known, liked, respected, and esteemed by all, as my
neighbors have testified, even the porter, who is not folatre every
day. I am fond of work, I am fond of saving, I like honest men, and
respectable pleasures. That is what has ruined me, so much the worse
for me; but as my will had nothing to do with it, I continue to respect
myself.

"Every Sunday for the last five years, my wife and I have spent the day
at Passy. We get fresh air, not to say that we are fond of fishing--as
fond of it as we are of small onions. Melie inspired me with that
passion, the jade; she is more enthusiastic than I am, the scold, and
all the mischief in this business is her fault, as you will see
immediately.

"I am strong and mild-tempered, without a pennyworth of malice in me.
But she! oh! la! la! she looks insignificant, she is short and thin,
but she does more mischief than a weasel. I do not deny that she has
some good qualities; she has some, and those very important to a man in
business. But her character! Just ask about it in the neighborhood;
even the porter's wife, who has just sent me about my business--she
will tell you something about it.

"Every day she used to find fault with my mild temper: 'I would not put
up with this! I would not put up with that.' If I had listened to her,
Monsieur le President, I should have had at least three bouts of
fisticuffs a month."

Madame Renard interrupted him: "And for good reasons too; they laugh
best who laugh last."

He turned toward her frankly: "Oh! very well, I can blame you, since
you were the cause of it."

Then, facing the President again he said:

"I will continue. We used to go to Passy every Saturday evening, so as
to be able to begin fishing at daybreak the next morning. It is