he, the Inspector of Surete,
approach these high personages, to question them. He dared not as long
as there was a Danish doctor.

Bernardet's brain whirled. He felt almost certain that Dr. Erwin would
give the same explanation which he, himself, suspected, in regard to the
observed phenomenon.

"The dead man's eye has spoken and can speak," said Bernardet to
himself. "Yes, surely. I am not deceived."

Dr. Erwin met Bernardet cordially and listened to him with profound
attention. The police officer repeated word for word the confession
drawn from Prades. Then he asked the Danish physician if he really
believed that Jacques Dantin's image had been transfixed on the retina
of the dying man's eye, during the time when he had held and gazed at
the portrait.

"For the proofs which I obtained were very confused," said the officer,
"it is possible, and I say it is quite easy to recognize Jacques
Dantin's features. We have seen it, and, according to your opinion even
the painting was able to be--how shall I express myself--stored up,
retained in the retina."

"You found the proof there," said Dr. Erwin.

"So, according to your opinion, I have not deceived myself?"

"No!"

"I have truly found in the retina of the dead man's eye the last vision
he saw when living?"

"Yes!"

"But the vision of a painting. A painting, Doctor."

"Why not!" Dr. Erwin responded in a sharp tone. "Do you know what
happened? Knowing that he was dying the unhappy man went, urged by a
tragic impulse, to that portrait which represented to him all that was
left, concentrating in one image alone, all his life."

"Then it is possible? It is possible?" Bernardet repeated.

"I believe it," said the Dane. "The man is dying. He has only one
thought--to go directly to the one who, surviving him, guarded his
secrets and his life. He seized his portrait; he tore it from its hook
with all his strength; he devoured it with his eyes; he drank it in with
a look, if I may be allowed the expression. To this picture of the being
whom he loved he spoke; he cried to him; telling him his last wishes;
dictating to him his thoughts of vengeance. At this supreme moment his
energy was increased a hundredfold, I know not what intensity of life
was concentrated on this image, and gathering all his failing forces in
a last look the man who wished to live; the man weakened by illness,
dying, assassinated, put into that last regard the electric force, the
fire which