Chamberss Edinburgh Journal, No. 427 | Page 9

one by
one. At length he came to a little parcel, the paper-envelope of which
appeared to be part of an old letter, and was thickly covered with
writing. It was one of Victor's letters. Julia blushed again.
'What have we here?' demanded the constable.
'I forget what there is inside,' said Julia. 'I hardly knew it was there.'
'Let us see.'
He opened two or three wrappers--the portion of the letter formed the
outside one, the others being blank white paper--and there fell out,
descending upon the table with a sharp jingle, a pair of gold bracelets,
ornamented with pearls and turquoises, a superb coral necklace, and a
diamond ring.
'Mademoiselle!' exclaimed the commissaire, whose face appeared to
lose all flexibility of expression the moment the discovery was made,
presenting now merely the stern, impassible, mechanical look of an

officer on duty, 'these are the identical articles for which I have been
searching for the last three days. Will you be good enough to change
your dress as quickly as possible, and prepare to accompany me to the
office of M. Morelle, magistrate of this district?'
At this juncture, the Widow Gostillon was conveyed back to her
cottage by some of her neighbours, with little Cecilia by her side.
Entering Julia's chamber, her young friends found her in a swoon, from
which the commissaire was assiduously endeavouring to recover her. A
scene of a most painful character ensued. Without afflicting the reader
with a recital of the agonised and indignant protestations of Julia--the
anger and affright of Widow Gostillon--the sorrow, sympathy, and
amazement of the villagers--suffice it to say, that the commissaire, in
the course of the morning, conducted Julia into the presence of the
magistrate.
It appears that the articles of bijouterie found in Julia's reticule had
been missed from the chamber of Mlle Antoinette Meurien the very
morning after Julia visited Victor's father at the château. The young
lady had seen them on her toilette early the preceding evening, and had
not worn them for some days, so that she could not have lost them
whilst walking or riding. It was evident they had been abstracted. A
search was instantly commenced. The domestics were examined, and
their rooms and boxes searched, but without either finding the property
or fixing suspicion on any one of them. The police were then apprised
of the robbery. The servants of the household underwent a second and
official examination, but all earnestly declared their innocence. It being
ascertained, however, that Julia had visited the house the night on
which the property was lost, an order was issued, commanding that her
residence be searched, and that she be brought before the authorities.
Among the witnesses who proved Julia's visit to the château was Victor
Colonne. In mingled affliction and indignation, he answered the
questions put to him, and declared that she who had but lately been the
object of his ardent affection was the very soul of honour and purity. A
lengthened examination elicited from him that he had conducted Julia
to the chamber of Mlle Antoinette, for the purpose of shewing her the
superb manner in which it was furnished and decorated. She had

stepped up to the toilette, he admitted, and had surveyed herself, as was
very natural, in the glass, but it was only for a moment; he was close to
her all the time, and indeed they hardly remained in the chamber two
minutes: they entered, looked round, and retired, and that was all. It
was true, he did not keep his eyes on his companion all the time; but
had she taken anything, he could not have failed seeing the act.
A general impression prevailed among the people at the château that
Julia was innocent; that it was impossible for one so virtuous and
intelligent to commit so disgraceful and rash a theft. Indeed, the tide of
suspicion had been fast turning against Victor himself, when it received
a new direction by the discovery of the missing articles in Julia's
reticule. Another examination ensued, the distracted Julia, as has been
stated, being herself brought into the presence of the magistrate. In
intense affliction, she declared her innocence: that she knew not how
the articles had got into her reticule; she had not put them there; did not
know they were there; had, indeed, never touched them at all. The
portion of the letter in which they had been wrapped was handed to her,
and she was questioned concerning it. 'It was part of a letter,' she said,
'which had been addressed to her by Victor Colonne.' She remembered
receiving it; but by what means it came to be applied to its present
purpose, she did not at all know. M. Morelle sternly bade her tell the
truth, and conceal nothing;