The examining magistrate turned quickly, facing the doctor, and
screwing up his eyes, asked:

"And from what do you conclude that she poisoned herself?"

"I don't conclude it, but I assume it. Was she on good terms with
her husband?"

"H'm, not altogether. There had been misunderstandings soon after
their marriage. There were unfortunate circumstances. She had found
her husband on one occasion with a lady. She soon forgave him
however."

"And which came first, her husband's infidelity or her idea of
dying?"

The examining magistrate looked attentively at the doctor as though
he were trying to imagine why he put that question.

"Excuse me," he said, not quite immediately. "Let me try and
remember." The examining magistrate took off his hat and rubbed his
forehead. "Yes, yes . . . it was very shortly after that incident
that she began talking of death. Yes, yes."

"Well, there, do you see? . . . In all probability it was at that
time that she made up her mind to poison herself, but, as most
likely she did not want to kill her child also, she put it off till
after her confinement."

"Not likely, not likely! . . . it's impossible. She forgave him at