human
Your name is Joseph?
gpt
That was my husband's first name. While he lived I was known as Mistress Joseph; since his death I have been called the Widow Joseph.
human
The poor child, Madeline, and her companion, Pauline, lived in your house?
gpt
Yes, from the first day they came into this part of the country. 'We have come a great distance,' said Pauline to me, 'and want a room to sleep in.' I showed her the room, and said it would be twelve francs a month. She paid me twelve francs, and remained with me till she left to go on a journey.
human
Did you ask her where she came from?
gpt
Yes; and she answered that it was of no consequence.
human
Did she pay the rent regularly?
gpt
Yes; and always without being asked for it.
human
Did she tell you she was poor?
gpt
She said she had but little money.
human
Did they have any settled plan of gaining a livelihood?
gpt
I do not think they had at first. Pauline asked me whether I thought it likely they could earn a living by selling flowers. I looked at Madeline, and said that I thought they were certain to do well.
human
You looked at Madeline. Why?
gpt
She was a very pretty girl.
human
And you thought, because she was very pretty, that she would have a greater chance of disposing of her flowers.
gpt
Yes. Gentlemen like to buy of pretty girls.
human
That is not said to Madeline's disparagement?
gpt
No. Madeline was a good girl. She was full of gaiety, but it was innocent gaiety.
human
What were your impressions of them? As to their social position? Did you believe them to be humbly born?
gpt
Pauline certainly; she was a peasant the same as myself. But there was something superior about Madeline which puzzled me.
human
How? In what way?
gpt
It was only an impression. Yet there were signs. Pauline's hands were hard and coarse; and from remarks she made from time to time I knew that she was peasant-born. Madeline's hands were soft and delicate, and she had not been accustomed to toil, which all peasants are, from their infancy almost.
human
From this do you infer that they were not related to each other?
gpt
I am sure they were related to each other. Perhaps few had the opportunities of judging as well as I could. When they were in a quiet mood I have seen expressions upon their faces so exactly alike as to leave no doubt that they were closely related.
human
Sisters?
gpt
I cannot say.
human
Or mother and daughter?
gpt
I wish to tell everything I know, but to say nothing that might be turned into a reproach against them.
human
We have every confidence in you. Judgment can be formed from the bearing of persons towards each other. Pauline loved Madeline?
gpt
Devotedly.
human
There is a distinctive quality in the attachment of a loving mother for her child which can scarcely be mistaken; it is far different, in certain visible manifestations--especially on occasions where there is any slight disagreement--between sisters. Distinctive, also, is the tenderness which accompanies the exercise of a mother's authority. Bearing this in mind, and recalling to the best of your ability those particulars of their intercourse which came within your cognisance, which hypothesis would you be the more ready to believe--that they were sisters or mother and child?
gpt
That they were mother and child.
human
We recognise your anxiety to assist us. Pauline's hands, you say, were coarse, while Madeline's were soft and delicate. Ordinarily, a peasant woman brings up her child as a peasant, with no false notions; in this instance, however, Pauline brought Madeline up with some idea that the young girl was superior to her own station in life. Else why the unusual care of the child? Supposing this line of argument to be correct, it appears not to be likely that the attentions of a man like Gautran would be encouraged.
gpt
They were not encouraged.
human
Do you know that they were not encouraged from statements made to you by Pauline and Madeline?
gpt
Yes.
human
Then Gautran's declaration that he was Madeline's accepted lover is false?
gpt
Quite false.
human
He speaks falsely when he says that Madeline promised to marry him?
gpt
It is impossible.
human
Four nights before Madeline met her death, was Gautran outside your house?
gpt
Yes; he was prowling about there with his evil face, for a long time.
human
Did you go to him, and ask him what he wanted?
gpt
Yes.
human
Did he tell you that he must see Madeline?
gpt
Yes, and I went into the house, and informed the girl. She said she would not see him, and I went down to Gautran and told him so. He then tried to force himself into the house, and I stood in his way. He struck me, and Madeline, frightened by my cries, ran to the door, and begged him to go away.
human
It is a fact that he was often seen in Madeline's company?
gpt
Yes; do what they would, they could not get rid of him; and they were frightened, if they angered him too much, that he would commit an act of violence.
human
As he did?
gpt
As he did. It is written on Madeline's grave.
human
Had the poor girl any other lovers?
gpt
None that I should call lovers. But she was greatly admired.
human
Was any one of these lovers especially favoured?
gpt
Not that I knew of.
human
Did any of them visit the house?
gpt
No--but may I speak?
human
Certainly.
gpt
It was not what I should call a visit. A gentleman came once to the door, and before I could get there, Pauline was with him. All that I heard was this: 'It is useless,' Pauline said to him; 'I will not allow you to see her, and if you persecute us with your attentions I will appeal for help to those who will teach you a lesson.' 'What is your objection to me?' he asked, and he was smiling all the time he spoke. 'Am I not a gentleman?' 'Yes,' she answered; 'and it is because of that, that I will not permit you to address her. Gentlemen! I have had enough of gentlemen!' 'You are a foolish woman,' he said, and he went away. That is all, and that is the only time--except when I saw Pauline in conversation with a man. He might have been a gentleman, but his clothes were not the clothes of one; neither were they the clothes of a peasant. They were conversing at a little distance from the house. I did not hear what they said, not a word, and half an hour afterwards Pauline came home. There was a look on her face such as I had never observed--a look of triumph and doubt. But she made no remark to me, nor I to her.
human
Where was Madeline at this time?
gpt
In the house.
human
Did you see this man again?
gpt
A second time, two evenings after. A third time, within the same week. He and Pauline spoke together very earnestly, and when anyone approached them always moved out of hearing. During the second week he came to the house, and inquired for Pauline. She ran downstairs and accompanied him into the open road. This occurred to my knowledge five or six times, until Pauline said to me, 'To-morrow I am going on a journey. Before long I may be able to reward you well for the kindness you have shown us.' The following day she left, and I have not seen her since.
human
Did she say how long she would be likely to be away?
gpt
I understood not longer than three weeks.
human
That time has passed, and still she does not appear. Since she left, have you seen the man who was so frequently with her?
gpt
No.
human
He has not been to the house to make inquiries?
gpt
No.
human
Is it not possible that he may have been Pauline's lover?
gpt
There was nothing of the lover in his manner towards her.
human
There was, however, some secret between them?
gpt
Evidently.
human
And Madeline--was she acquainted with it?
gpt
It is impossible to say.
human
You have no reason to suppose, when Pauline went away, that she had no intention of returning?
gpt
I am positive she intended to return.
human
And with good news, for she promised to reward you for your kindness?
gpt
Yes, she did so.
human
Is it not probable that she, also, may have met with foul play?
gpt
It is probable; but Heaven alone knows!