was hunting."

"The King was also present at that hunt, and was there seized with the
first attack of the malady from which he is at present suffering."

"I was not near the King, and I can say nothing about this. I was even
ignorant of the fact that he had been ill."

The judges looked at one another with a smile of incredulity.

"Ah! you were ignorant of his Majesty's illness, were you?" said the
president.

"Yes, monsieur, and I am sorry to hear of it. Although the King of
France is not my king, I have a great deal of sympathy for him."

"Indeed!"

"On my honor! It is different so far as his brother the Duc d'Alencon is
concerned. The latter I confess"--

"We have nothing to do with the Duc d'Alencon, monsieur; this concerns
his Majesty."

"Well, I have already told you that I am his very humble servant," said
Coconnas, turning about in an adorably impudent fashion.

"If as you pretend, monsieur, you are really his servant, will you tell
us what you know of a certain waxen figure?"

"Ah, good! we have come back to the figure, have we?"

"Yes, monsieur; does this displease you?"

"On the contrary, I prefer it; go ahead."

"Why was this statue found in Monsieur de la Mole's apartments?"

"At Monsieur de la Mole's? At Rene's, you mean?"

"You acknowledge that it exists, then, do you?"

"Why, if you will show it to me."

"Here it is. Is this the one you know?"

"It is."

"Clerk," said the president, "write down that the accused recognizes the
image as the one seen at Monsieur de la Mole's."

"No, no!" said Coconnas, "do not let us misunderstand each other--as the
one seen at Rene's."

"At Rene's; very good! On what day?"

"The only day La Mole and myself were at Rene's."

"You admit, then, that you were at Rene's with Monsieur de la Mole?"

"Why, did I ever deny it?"

"Clerk, write down that the accused admits having gone to Rene's to work
conjurations."

"Stop there, Monsieur le President. Moderate your enthusiasm, I beg you.
I did not say that at all."

"You deny having been at Rene's to work conjurations?"

"I deny it. The magic took place by accident. It was unpremeditated."

"But it took place?"

"I cannot deny that something resembling a charm did take place."

"Clerk, write down that the accused admits that he obtained at Rene's a
charm against the life of the King."

"What! against the King's life? That is an infamous lie! There was no
charm obtained against the life of