He
nodded his little bob-wigged head at us, and said repeatedly, 'All
right, Johnny--me comprong.'
Then Goguelat shook hands with me, embraced me again, and I went
out of the room sobbing like an infant.
How often have I not seen it, that the most unpardonable fellows
make the happiest exits! It is a fate we may well envy them.
Goguelat was detested in life; in the last three days, by his
admirable staunchness and consideration, he won every heart; and
when word went about the prison the same evening that he was no
more, the voice of conversation became hushed as in a house of
mourning.
For myself I was like a man distracted; I cannot think what ailed
me: when I awoke the following day, nothing remained of it; but
that night I was filled with a gloomy fury of the nerves. I had
killed him; he had done his utmost to protect me; I had seen him
with that awful smile. And so illogical and useless is this
sentiment of remorse, that I was ready, at a word or a look, to
quarrel with somebody else. I presume the disposition of my mind
was imprinted on my face; and when, a little after, I overtook,
saluted and addressed the doctor, he looked on me with
commiseration and surprise.
I had asked him if it was true.
'Yes,' he said, 'the fellow's gone.'
'Did he suffer much?' I asked.
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