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prison。 He inspired me with the profoundest pity。 Though pale；
distracted； and covered with blood； his whole countenance had a
character of truth and innocence which struck me forcibly。 To me his
long fair hair and clear blue eyes seemed German。 A true image of my
hapless country。 I felt he was a victim and not a murderer。 At the
moment when he passed beneath my window he chanced to cast about him
the painful； melancholy smile of an insane man who suddenly recovers
for a time a fleeting gleam of reason。 That smile was assuredly not
the smile of a murderer。 When I saw the jailer I questioned him about
his new prisoner。
〃He has not spoken since I put him in his cell；〃 answered the man。 〃He
is sitting down with his head in his hands and is either sleeping or
reflecting about his crime。 The French say he'll get his reckoning to…
morrow morning and be shot in twenty…four hours。〃
That evening I stopped short under the window of the prison during the
short time I was allowed to take exercise in the prison yard。 We
talked together； and he frankly related to me his strange affair；
replying with evident truthfulness to my various questions。 After that
first conversation I no longer doubted his innocence； I asked； and
obtained the favor of staying several hours with him。 I saw him again
at intervals； and the poor lad let me in without concealment to all
his thoughts。 He believed himself both innocent and guilty。
Remembering the horrible temptation which he had had the strength to
resist； he feared he might have done in sleep； in a fit of
somnambulism； the crime he had dreamed of awake。
〃But your companion？〃 I said to him。
〃Oh！〃 he cried eagerly。 〃Wilhelm is incapable of〃
He did not even finish his sentence。 At that warm defence； so full of
youth and manly virtue； I pressed his hand。
〃When he woke；〃 continued Prosper； 〃he must have been terrified and
lost his head； no doubt he fled。〃
〃Without awaking you？〃 I said。 〃Then surely your defence is easy；
Wahlenfer's valise cannot have been stolen。〃
Suddenly he burst into tears。
〃Oh； yes！〃 he cried； 〃I am innocent！ I have not killed a man！ I
remember my dreams。 I was playing at base with my schoolmates。 I
couldn't have cut off the head of a man while I dreamed I was
running。〃
Then； in spite of these gleams of hope； which gave him at times some
calmness； he felt a remorse which crushed him。 He had； beyond all
question； raised his arm to kill that man。 He judged himself； and he
felt that his heart was not innocent after committing that crime in
his mind。
〃And yet； I AM good！〃 he cried。 〃Oh； my poor mother！ Perhaps at this
moment she is cheerfully playing boston with the neighbors in her
little tapestry salon。 If she knew that I had raised my hand to murder
a manoh！ she would die of it！ And I AM in prison； accused of
committing that crime！ If I have not killed a man； I have certainly
killed my mother！〃
Saying these words he wept no longer； he was seized by that short and
rapid madness known to the men of Picardy； he sprang to the wall； and
if I had not caught him； he would have dashed out his brains against
it。
〃Wait for your trial；〃 I said。 〃You are innocent； you will certainly
be acquitted； think of your mother。〃
〃My mother！〃 he cried frantically； 〃she will hear of the accusation
before she hears anything else；it is always so in little towns； and
the shock will kill her。 Besides； I am not innocent。 Must I tell you
the whole truth？ I feel that I have lost the virginity of my
conscience。〃
After that terrible avowal he sat down； crossed his arms on his
breast； bowed his head upon it； gazing gloomily on the ground。 At this
instant the turnkey came to ask me to return to my room。 Grieved to
leave my companion at a moment when his discouragement was so deep； I
pressed him in my arms with friendship； saying：
〃Have patience； all may yet go well。 If the voice of an honest man can
still your doubts； believe that I esteem you and trust you。 Accept my
friendship； and rest upon my heart； if you cannot find peace in your
own。〃
The next morning a corporal's guard came to fetch the young surgeon at
nine o'clock。 Hearing the noise made by the soldiers； I stationed
myself at my window。 As the prisoner crossed the courtyard； he cast
his eyes up to me。 Never shall I forget that look； full of thoughts；
presentiments； resignation； and I know not what sad； melancholy grace。
It was； as it were； a silent but intelligible last will by which a man
bequeathed his lost existence to his only friend。 The night must have
been very hard； very solitary for him； and yet； perhaps； the pallor of
his face expressed a stoicism gathered from some new sense of self…
respect。 Perhaps he felt that his remorse had purified him； and
believed that he had blotted out his fault by his anguish and his
shame。 He now walked with a firm step； and since the previous evening
he had washed away the blood with which he was； involuntarily；
stained。
〃My hands must have dabbled in it while I slept； for I am always a
restless sleeper；〃 he had said to me in tones of horrible despair。
I learned that he was on his way to appear before the council of war。
The division was to march on the following morning； and the
commanding…officer did not wish to leave Andernach without inquiry
into the crime on the spot where it had been committed。 I remained in
the utmost anxiety during the time the council lasted。 At last； about
mid…day； Prosper Magnan was brought back。 I was then taking my usual
walk； he saw me； and came and threw himself into my arms。
〃Lost！〃 he said； 〃lost； without hope！ Here； to all the world； I am a
murderer。〃 He raised his head proudly。 〃This injustice restores to me
my innocence。 My life would always have been wretched； my death leaves
me without reproach。 But is there a future？〃
The whole eighteenth century was in that sudden question。 He remained
thoughtful。
〃Tell me；〃 I said to him； 〃how you answered。 What did they ask you？
Did you not relate the simple facts as you told them to me？〃
He looked at me fixedly for a moment； then； after that awful pause； he
answered with feverish excitement：
〃First they asked me； 'Did you leave the inn during the night？' I
said； 'Yes。' 'How？' I answered； 'By the window。' 'Then you must have
taken great precautions； the innkeeper heard no noise。' I was
stupefied。 The sailors said they saw me walking； first to Andernach；
then to the forest。 I made many trips； they said； no doubt to bury the
gold and diamonds。 The valise had not been found。 My remorse still
held me dumb。 When I wanted to speak； a pitiless voice cried out to
me； 'YOU MEANT TO COMMIT THAT CRIME！' All was against me； even myself。
They asked me about my comrade； and I completely exonerated him。 Then
they said to me： 'The crime must lie between you； your comrade； the
innkeeper； and his wife。 This morning all the windows and doors were