to employ all their influence to obtain that a commission of physicians
from outside--if possible, from Paris--should be appointed to examine
Cocoleu, and to report on his mental condition.

"I undertake," he said, "to prove to really enlightened men, that
this poor creature is partly pretending to be imbecile, and that his
obstinate speechlessness is only adopted in order to avoid answers which
would compromise him."

At first, however, neither M. de Chandore nor M. Folgat gave any answer.
They were considering the question.

"Mind," said the doctor again, shocked at their silence, "mind, I pray,
that if my view is adopted, as I have every reason to hope, a new turn
will be given to the whole case."

Why yes! The ground of the accusation might be taken from under the
prosecution; and that was what kept M. Folgat thinking.

"And that is exactly," he commenced at last, "what makes me ask myself
whether the discovery of Cocoleu's rascality would not be rather
injurious than beneficial to M. de Boiscoran."

The doctor was furious. He cried,--

"I should like to know"--

"Nothing can be more simple," replied the advocate. "Cocoleu's idiocy
is, perhaps the most serious difficulty in the way of the prosecution,
and the most powerful argument for the defence. What can M. Galpin say,