Chapter 29 Twenty-seven

The audience was even larger than at the first court session.Security guards had to be stepped up at the gate of the court.There was a sea of ​​people, even the windows of Jacques Cole's mansion, the city hall today.This time I was feeling restless, although I had enough grit and self-esteem not to show it.Since then I have been concerned with the success of the suit; and as it appeared that my hopes would not be realized, I have experienced an indescribable anguish, a pent-up anger, a resentment against men, even against God, for these People close their eyes to my innocence, and God seems to have abandoned me. ① Jacques Cole (13951456), a wealthy French businessman and industrialist.

In this state of agitation, I tried to restrain myself in order to appear composed, and paid little attention to what was going on around me.I regained my composure and answered the new questions put to me in the same terms as in the first interrogation.Later, a piece of black veil used for funerals seemed to be unrolled on my head, and an iron ring was tightly encircling my skull. Indistinct and incomprehensible sounds.I do not know what happened, or whether I was informed of the appearance which so suddenly shocked me.All I remember is that the door behind the bench opened and Arthur came forward with a veiled woman on his arm.The courtesans courteously pushed a broad armchair towards her, Arthur seated her, and raised her veil; and there was a booing of admiration from the audience as they spotted Edmee's pale beauty.

For the moment I forgot both the crowd and the court, my case and the universe.I believe that no force on earth can resist my fanatical impulse.As fast as lightning I rushed to the middle of the fence, knelt at Edmee's feet, and kissed her knees passionately.I heard later that this act attracted the public, and nearly all the women wept like tears.Those sons and daughters dared not joke anymore; the judges were moved.For a moment truth triumphed. Edmee looked at me for a long time.The expression on her face was as indifferent as death, and it seemed impossible to recognize me.The audience waited with bated breath for her to show hatred or tenderness towards me.Suddenly, she burst into tears, put her arms around my neck, and then lost consciousness.Arthur sent her off at once; but he had no difficulty in getting me back where I was.I didn't know where I was, nor what happened; I clung tightly to Edmee's dress, and wanted to follow her.Arthur petitioned the court to have Edmee's health re-examined by the doctor who had seen her that morning.He also requested that, once she recovered from the episode, she be resubmitted to testify and confront me, and this request was granted.

He said: "This attack is not serious; Mademoiselle de Maupra has had it several times in the last few days and on the way here. Her intelligence has always improved more and more after each attack." .” "Go and take care of the sick," said the president. "In two hours she will be called for confrontation, if you believe that is enough time to bring her back to her senses. During this period, the court first heard a witness that, at his request, the previous sentence was not carried out. " Arthur exits; Patience is brought in.He was neatly dressed; but after a few words he declared that he could not continue without taking off his coat.The borrowed costume made him uncomfortable, seemed heavy, and he was sweating profusely.He scarcely waited for the president to make a sign of assent, and with a contemptuous smile, he threw this emblem of civilization to the ground.Then carefully lowering the sleeves of his shirt over his strong, muscular arms, he said roughly something like this:

"I will tell the truth, the whole truth. I raise my hand again, because the facts I am going to say appear to be contradictory, and I cannot explain them myself. I swear before God and man, I will say what I know , to the best of my knowledge, free from any influence, neither for nor against anyone." He held up a large hand, and turned to the crowd with an air of simple confidence, as if to say: "You all saw me take the oath; you know I am a man of trust." His confidence was not without foundation.Since the twists and turns of the first trial, everyone has been concerned about this special man who dared to speak in court and speak impassionedly to the crowd in front of the judges.Such behavior arouses great curiosity and sympathy in all democrats and people of conscience.The fashion of Beaumarchais's writings in high society at that time is sufficient to explain why Paccience, in opposition to all authority in the province, was supported and applauded by everyone who boasted of a knowledge of lofty ideas.They all believed to see Figaro in his new form.The reputation of his private virtue spread; you remember that during my sojourn in America, Patience became famous among the inhabitants of Varennes, and exchanged his reputation of a wizard for that of a good man.He was nicknamed "The Lord Chancellor" because he took pleasure in mediating disputes, and settled them with admirable kindness and skill, to everyone's satisfaction. ① Beaumarchais (1732-1799), French playwright, author of "The Marriage of Figaro" and other plays.The protagonist Figaro in the play was born as a commoner, witty, optimistic and full of rebellious spirit.

This time he spoke in a high, moving voice.His voice was sonorous and varied, his gestures were slow and excited according to the situation stated, but always noble and exciting; the expression on his short Socratic face was always beautiful.He has all the qualities of an orator; but expresses them without any vanity.He spoke in an unmistakable manner which he had had to acquire in dealing with people of late, and debating their real interests. ① Socrates (469 BC-399 BC), an ancient Greek philosopher. He said: "When Mademoiselle de Mauprat was shot, I was at most ten paces away from her; but the place was so thick with trees that I could not see anything beyond two paces. They persuaded me to let me join the hunt, but I Didn't find it very amusing. When I got back near the Garzo Towers where I lived for twenty years, I wanted to see the old hut again; I strode there just in time to hear the gunshot. It's natural for someone to shoot during a hunt! However, when I emerged from the undergrowth, that is to say, about two minutes later, I found Edmee (forgive me, I'm used to calling her that, I've always been like a foster father) treat her like that), and I found Edmee on her knees, wounded as you have heard, holding the bridle of her horse, which stood upright. She did not know if she was seriously wounded , but she put her other hand on her chest and said:

"'Bernard, this is terrible! I will never believe that you will kill me. Bernard, where are you? To see me die. You killed my father!' "As she said this she fell completely and let go of the horse's rein. I charged at her. "'Ah! You saw him, Patience?' she said to me. 'Don't tell it, don't tell my father...' "She stretched out her arms and her body became stiff; I thought she was dead, she stopped talking, and only spoke again at night after two bullets were taken from her chest." "Did you see Bernard de Maupra?"

"I was at the place where it happened, and I saw Edmee just as he was unconscious, and seemed to be dying; he seemed to have gone mad. I think it was a sign of his remorse. I spoke to him very roughly, and put He was treated like a murderer. He didn't say a word, just sat down next to his cousin. He stayed there, sitting stupidly for a long time after she was taken away. No one thought of accusing him. Seeing his horse along the galloping along the edge of the pool, it was assumed that he had fallen from his horse, and that his carbine had gone off in the fall. Only the Abbe Aubert heard me accuse Monsieur Bernard of murdering his cousin. In the following days, Edme Occasionally; not always in my presence, and since then she has been talking nonsense almost all the time. I emphasize that she told no one (much less Miss LeBlanc) about her relationship with De? Mauprat. She did not make an exception to confide in me. In one of her rare moments of lucidity, she answered our questions by saying that Bernard certainly did not do it on purpose; Once, she asked to see him. However, when she had a high fever, she cried out:

"'Bernard! Bernard! You have committed a great crime. You have killed my father!' "That's what she thought; she really thought her father was dead, and she believed it for a long time. So most of what she said was meaningless. Miss LeBlanc taught her to tell lies. After three days, she couldn't tell. Understandable words. Eight days later, her condition took a turn for the worse, and she was completely silent. She regained her senses a week ago, and since then she has driven Miss LeBlanc away, which is enough to prove that she is dissatisfied with this maid. This is what I have to say against M. de Mauprat. It is entirely up to me whether I say it or not; however, since there are other things to say, I am willing to reveal the whole truth."

Patience paused for a moment; the audience and the judges, who had begun to care about me and cast aside their deep prejudices, seemed taken aback by such an unexpected statement. Patience went on to say: "For several weeks, I was convinced that Bernard was guilty. After thinking it over and over again, I said to myself many times that Bernard was so kind and educated, that Edmee respected him and that Chevalier de Moprat was like his own son. General love, and deeply influenced by the thoughts of justice and truth, a person like him will not become a villain overnight. Then I had an idea that it was probably another Moprat who shot—— I'm not talking about the Mauprat who has become an ascetic," he added, looking for John de Mauprat in the audience but failing to find him: "I'm talking about the unproven death. Mauprat, although the Court, on the part of Mr. John de Mauprat, considered it to be disregarded."

"Witness," said the President, "I must remind you that you are not here to represent the accused, nor to deliberate on the judgment of this Court. Make irresponsible remarks." "Okay," Patience replied. "But I must explain why I did not want to testify at the first trial, when I had only evidence against Bernard, and I did not believe in the evidence itself." "You're not being asked that at the moment. Keep the statement on track." "Wait a minute! I want to protect my reputation, I want to explain my behavior, please pay attention." "You are not a defendant and do not have to defend your case. If the judge decides it is proper to charge you for contempt of court, then there is no time for you to plead; that is not the question now." "The problem is letting the court know whether I'm telling the truth or lying. Sorry! I think that's part of the case; the defendant's life depends on it; the court can't treat it as irrelevant." "Speak," Wang's lawyer said, "try to maintain due respect for the court." "I don't want to offend the court," replied Patience, "I simply want to say that a person may refuse to obey the order of the court on grounds of conscience, which the court may condemn by law, but which each independent judge may condemn." Understood and forgiven. So I say, I do not believe in my heart that Bernard de Maupra is guilty; only my ears hear; it is not enough for me. Forgive me, gentlemen, and I, too. A judge. You investigate me! In my village I am called 'The Lord Judge.' When my fellow countrymen beg me to decide a quarrel in a tavern or the boundaries of a property, I don't listen to their opinions as much as I value my own. Judging people should be more thoughtful than judging a mere fact. To prove the right or wrong of a conclusion requires a lot of investigation and research. Therefore, since it is impossible to believe that Bernard will Became a murderer and heard a dozen testimonies (I don't think they could have perjured) that there was a monk who 'looked like the Maupra family' wandering around the area, and I saw this monk in priestly robes on the morning of the accident Looking back through Pliny, I wanted to know if he was in Varenna, and I learned that he was still there; that is, after he left, he came back when the trial was approaching last month. What's more, I learned that he was in close association with M. John de Mauprat. I asked myself, who could this monk be? Why did his face terrify all the inhabitants of the region? What was he doing in Varennes? If he belonged to the Carmelites, why didn't he wear their clothes? If he belonged to the same order as Monsieur John, why didn't he live with him in the Carmelites? Or, why, after alms here, do not go anywhere else, but come back to haunt the person who gave alms the day before? If he is an ascetic, he will not stay in the Carmelites like the other one. In the monastery, why don't you go back to your own monastery? Who is this wandering monk? Why does John de Mauprat tell many people that he doesn't know him, but in fact he knows him very well, and from time to time he is in the Klevan family. Dinner in a tavern? So I resolved to testify, even if it might injure Bernard a little, for the right to state to you what I just said, even if it would be of no use. Since you people never give witnesses enough Time was to try to verify what they believed, so I returned at once to the woods, and lived like a fox, determined not to leave the woods until I discovered what the monk was doing in this country. I began to follow him, and at last found out what he really was; he was the murderer of Edme? De Mauprat's murderer is named Antoine de Mauprat." The revelation caused a great stir in the bench and among the audience.All eyes were on John de Maupra, but he never appeared. "What evidence do you have?" asked the President. "I'm going to tell you," Patience replied. "I had the opportunity of helping the proprietress of the tavern in Cleven, and she told me that two monks dined in her shop from time to time, as I said. So I went to a tavern half a league away. Live in a secluded place, called a 'dark cave', in the middle of the woods, where anyone who comes first can stay and store things temporarily. It's a cave with a big rock to sit on, and nothing else. I spent two days there, fed on grass roots, bark, and the bread that sometimes brought me from the tavern. It was not my principle to live in the tavern. The monk went to dine. I ran there at once, and took refuge in a pantry adjoining the garden, the door of which was shaded by an apple tree, under which the two customers were lunching in the open air. Monsieur John eats temperately; the other eats like a Carmelite and drinks like a Franciscan. I can see and hear everything to my heart's content. Franciscan, Catholic trust One of the Bowl Orders, was founded by Italian Pope Francis in lop. At first, he advocated a life of asceticism and abhorrence. Later, he accumulated a large amount of property and split into several sects. Some of them stopped begging for food and lived a life of luxury. "'It is time to put an end to this situation,' said Antoine, whom I recognized from the sight of his drink and the sound of his cursing; 'I am tired of what you have me doing. .Give me refuge in the Carmelite monastery, or I'll make trouble.' "'How can you make a fuss without being tortured, fool?' replied John. 'You—can't get into a monastery, give up on it; I don't want to be involved in a criminal proceeding. , because within three hours you will be found there.' "'I would like to ask: why? You can convince them all that you are a saint!' "'I can behave like a saint and you act like a slob. Can you keep an hour without swearing and breaking plates after dinner!' "'I say, Nepomisenna, if I ever get caught and sued, do you want to get away with it?' asked another. "'Why not?' replied the Penitent. 'I have neither participated in your follies nor made any such opinion.' "'Ah! ah! what a gentleman!' said Antoine, throwing himself back in his chair with a laugh. 'you are very happy now that it has been done. You have always been a coward; Just go be an ascetic, parody the appearance of piety, and get immunity from prosecution for your past, to be entitled to a little money from St. Sever's "Budget." Ah, really What an ambition! Go through life in a cassock to die, half tasted of earthly pleasures, and hide like a mole! Come, come, when lovely Bernard is hanged, The beautiful Edmond died, and the old daring died, and when we inherited that considerable fortune, you will admit that it was a Yannackian trick: get rid of three people at once. It's too much work for me to be a saint, I'm not used to being a monk, and I don't know how to be a priest; so I'm going to disown and build a chapel in the Rock of Maupra in the future, and it's enough to receive Holy Communion four times a year.' ① Baron Jarnac (1505-1572), a French nobleman, once held a famous duel in front of the king, but unexpectedly and effectively stabbed his opponent's knee in the face of failure. "'Everything you do in this is stupid and despicable.' "'Ouch! Don't say anything vile, my dear brother, or I'll make you swallow the unopened bottle!' "'I said it was a foolish thing; if it worked, you should burn a great candle to the Virgin; if it didn't work, I'd let it go, don't you hear? I heard Bell I said to your servant, after supper, that he was fascinated by the beautiful Edmee, and I blurted out to you that there was a chance; Without asking for my opinion, and without waiting for a favorable opportunity, I put into practice a matter that required careful consideration and repeated deliberation." "'Favourable timing, you coward! Where shall I find favorable timing? Convenient chance invites theft. I find myself unexpectedly surrounded by hunting parties in the middle of the woods; The young lovers came over and overheard a really laughable conversation, Bernard was crying, the girl was pretentious; Bernard walked away like a fool, showing no manliness. I was in Found on him--God knows how--a loaded pistol that was doing bad things. Crack!  …' "'Shut up, Beast!' said another, terrified. 'Is such a thing fit to be told in a tavern? Don't say anything, unfortunate man! Or I'll never see you again.' "'But I will ring at the door of the Carmelite monastery, and you must meet me, my dear brother.' "'You must not come, or I will expose you.' "'You won't expose me, I know you all too well.' "'I am not afraid of you. I have proved repentant; I have atoned.' "'hypocrite!' "'Come, shut up, you unreasonable man!' said the other; 'I must go, here's your money.' "'that's it?' "'What do you expect from a monk? You think I'm rich?' "'That is the case with your Carmelites; use them as you please.' "'I can give you more, but I don't want to. Once you have a few louis, you're going to get drunk, cause trouble, and show yourself.' "'But you want me to be away from here for a while, and what shall I pay for my journey?' "'Haven't I already paid you three times? Every time you go to the first disreputable establishment on the provincial line, drink up the money and come back! After those witnesses testified against you, when the mounted police Be on the lookout, I'm disgusted by your imprudence when Bernard appealed for a review. You're about to be discovered!" "'Brother, it's you to watch out for; you can lead the Carmelites by the nose, and the Carmelites can lead the bishops by the nose, who, by some petty sin, are cloistered after dinner Small crimes committed collectively in the courtyard...'" At this point, the President interrupted Patience's statement. "Witness," he said, "I want you to follow the protocol. How dare you insult the virtue of a high clergyman by stating such a conversation." "Not at all," replied Patience, "I have nothing to do with my denunciation of a scoundrel and a murderer against a high clergyman. Everyone here knows what to say; but if you wish , I won’t say much about this aspect. The debate continued for quite a long time. The true penance tried to persuade the false penance to leave, but the latter insisted on staying, asserting that if he was not here, once After Bernard's head had been lost, his brother would have him arrested immediately, in order to keep his inheritance to himself. Johann was so driven that he threatened to denounce him and bring him to justice. "'Forget it!' said Antoine. 'You'd better not do it. After all, if Bernard is acquitted, the inheritance will be blown!' "That was how they parted. The true ascetic walked away worriedly, and the other fell asleep with his elbows on the table. I came out of my little hiding place and set out to arrest him. Just then the mounted policeman The police seized me by the collar; they had long hunted me to compel me to testify. I accused the monk of Edmee's murder, but in vain, they would not believe me, and said there was no case against him. Arrest warrant. I want to mobilize the villagers. They don't allow me to speak, and they escort me here one after another like a deserter. I have been locked in a solitary cell for a week, and no one will listen to my complaint. I was not even able to see M. Bernard's defense attorney, to let him know that I was in prison; only a while ago, the jailer came to inform me that I had to wear clothes to appear in court. I don't know if all this is legal; but one thing is Certainly, the murderer could have been caught, but let him go, and will never escape, if you do not detain this man, Mr. Said his accomplice-taughter. I swear, from all the conversations I have heard, Mr. John de Mauprat has no suspicion of complicity; The act of a criminal to furnish perjury and falsification of his death..." Seeing that the President was about to interrupt him again, Patience hastily concluded his statement with the following words: "As for this, gentlemen, of course it is for you and not for me to proceed."