THE SHADOW OF A HAND,

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 213, 8 September 1891, Page 4

THE SHADOW OF A HAND,

In the year 1846 the inhabitants of Dieppe were thrown into a state of the utmost consternation by a series of robberies and murders, evidently the work oi oiio man. No trace of the perpetrator could be discovered, though one of his intended victims who had narrowly escaped, averred that he had only three fingers on one of his hands. The Government offered a large reward for his apprehension, and the police displayed the greatest activity. In the outskirts of Dieppe there lived an elderly lady, of the name of Beaumaurice, alone with one servant, in a rather solitary house. She was the widow of an officer, and noted for her strength of character and personal courage. The excitement prevailing in the town made no visible impression upon her, though the contrary might have been expected from one in her lonely position. On the 30th of April, Madame Beaumaurice, who had been, suffering all day from nervous headache, retired to her bed-chamber at about ten o'clock in the evening. Feeling very tired, she sat down in an easy chair to take a little rest. Before her stood the dressingtable, draped with curbains reaching to the floor. A lamp was burning behind her on a little table. The lady had begun to undress, when she eaw something that stopped the beating of her heart. There appeared on the floor the shadow of a man's hand. The hand had only threa fingers ! The position of afiairs was clear enough : t'lo murderer was concealed under her dressing-table. The lady kept perfectly still, and considered what was to be done. After a few moments' reflection, she went to the door and called her servant, and asked her as soon as she made her appearance : — 'Marie, do you know where M. Bernard lives.?' ' Yes, madame.' ' I had quite forgotten that I had 5,000fr to pay to-morrow mcrning. You had better go at once and get the money-' ' Very well, madame.' _ ' And lest he should hesitate about giving you the notes, I will give you a written order to take to him,' The girl waited, and her mistress wrote : — D(?ar M. Bernard, — The murderer of the Hue des Armes and Bug Grenarp is in my house. Come immediately, with two or three gendarmes, and take him into custody. • Helene Beatjmanricjb.* She gave the note to the servant-maid and sent her away. Then Bhe sat down again and waited. She sat a whole hour in the room ia tho presence of a notorious murderer who lay concealed under her dressing-table. There she sat — calm, cool, and resolute. The shadow of the hand appeared from time to time on the floor — the only token of the dreadful presence. _ When at length the Gendarmes arrived Jacques Eeynauld was taken prisoner, after- a desperate struggle, and shortly afterwards paid the penalty of his crimes under the axe of the guillotine.