With so cunning an adversary, he was evidently pursuing a false course.
To proceed in detail was folly, he neither intimidated the prisoner,
nor made him break through his reserve. It was necessary to take him
unawares.
"Sir," resumed the magistrate, abruptly, "tell me exactly how you passed
your time last Tuesday evening, from six o'clock until midnight?"
For the first time, Albert seemed disconcerted. His glance, which had,
till then, been fixed upon the magistrate, wavered.
"During Tuesday evening," he stammered, repeating the phrase to gain
time.
"I have him," thought the magistrate, starting with joy, and then added
aloud, "yes, from six o'clock until midnight."
"I am afraid, sir," answered Albert, "it will be difficult for me to
satisfy you. I haven't a very good memory."
"Oh, don't tell me that!" interrupted the magistrate. "If I had asked
what you were doing three months ago, on a certain evening, and at a
certain hour, I could understand your hesitation; but this is about
Tuesday, and it is now Friday. Moreover, this day, so close, was the
last of the carnival; it was Shrove Tuesday. That circumstance ought to
help your memory.
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