Chapter 52 Notre Dame de Paris (3) Volume 8 Gold Coins Turn into Dry Leaves (3)

Three Gold Coins Turned into Dry Leaves (Continued) Her face was pale, and she limped back to the trial hall, and immediately there were cheerful murmurs.As far as the audience is concerned, the impatience is finally relieved. It is like waiting in the theater until the final intermission of a comedy is over, the curtain is raised again, and the final act is about to begin.As far as the judges are concerned, it is hopeful to go home and have dinner immediately.The little goat was so happy that he bleated and bleated, and wanted to run to the hostess, but he couldn't break free from being tied to the stool.

Night fell completely.There were no more candles in the hall, and the light was so weak that it was impossible to see the surrounding walls clearly.Darkness enveloped everything, and everything seemed to be covered with some kind of mist.The indifferent faces of some of the judges were blurred.They could see at the other end of the hall, just opposite them, a vague white spot that stood out against the dark background.That's the accused. She dragged herself back to her position.Charmolue also returned to his seat majesticly, sat down, then stood up again, trying not to show too much complacency, and said: "The defendants have all confessed."

"The vagabond," went on the president, "do you confess to sorcery, prostitution, the murder of Phoebes de Châtopelle?" She was heartbroken.I could only hear her sobbing and crying in the dark.She replied weakly: "I confess everything you want, but put me to death quickly!" "Monsieur Prosecutor of the King's Inquisition," said the presiding judge, "this court is ready to hear your indictment." Monsieur Charmolue spread out a formidable book, gesticulated, and, with the exaggerated tone of an indictment, began to read a speech in Latin, in which all the evidence of the case was presented in Cicero's roundabout sentences. VII. Cobbled together, interspersed with quotes from his favorite comedy writer Plott.It's a pity that we can't share this wonderful article with the judges.The speaker was eloquent and eloquent, and before he finished his opening remarks, sweat was breaking out on his forehead.The eyeballs protruded from their sockets.Suddenly, when the righteous thoughts reached the middle of a long sentence, they suddenly stopped, and the usually gentle and stupid eyes immediately revealed a fierce light.He exclaimed (in French this time, for the words were not in the book), "Gentlemen, Satan has a hand in this case, and he is here to watch the trial, and make faces to mock the dignity of this court. Behold!" ’ he said, pointing to the kid.Seeing Charmoluby gesturing, the little goat thought it was going to learn how to do it, and then sat back, stretched out his front legs, shook his bearded head, and tried his best to imitate this king. A pathetic gesture by the Prosecutor of the Inquisition.It will be remembered that this was Belle's greatest talent.This accidental incident, this last piece of evidence, had serious consequences.People were in a hurry to tie up the goat's four feet, and the prosecutor on the king was eloquent again, and continued to talk.

He talked too long, but the ending was wonderful and wonderful.Here is the last sentence, please think of Master Charmolue's hoarse voice and panting gesture when reading it: "Therefore, my lords, the witchcraft has been proven on the spot, the crime has been manifested, and the criminal motive has been established, in the name of Notre-Dame de Paris, which has all judicial powers on the old city island, it is hereby ordered by you. as follows: 1. Payment of compensation. 2. Confess in public in front of Notre Dame Cathedral. 3. Judgment that the priestess and her goat should be executed on the spot in the so-called river beach square or the island promontory protruding from the Seine River and adjacent to the Royal Garden. "①

Once finished, he put on his hat and sat down again. Gringoire was distraught, and sighed: "Bah! What a bad Latin!" ② At this time, a man in a black robe stood up from the defendant.This is the defendant's defense attorney.The judges were hungry and murmured under their breath. "Speak briefly, lawyer," said the president. "My lord," replied the lawyer, "now that the defendant has confessed, I have but one word to say to your lords. Here is a clause of the Salic Code: 'If a witch eats a man, and shall The witch, who confesses, is liable to a fine of eight thousand deniers, or two hundred gold sous.' I ask the court to impose this fine on my client."

"That clause has been repealed," said the king's special counsel. "I'm not right!" retorted the defense attorney. "Let's vote." A judge said. "The crime is confirmed, and the time is too late." Immediately, a vote was taken on the spot, and the judges raised their hats casually, and they were rushing home. One by one in the gloom they took off their hats as the President posed the vital question to them in a low voice.The defenseless defendant appeared to be watching them, when in fact her eyes were flustered and she could see nothing.

①②③ The original text is Latin. Then the clerk began to record the case, and then handed a piece of parchment to the president. At this moment, the unfortunate girl heard the movement of the crowd, the clash of spears, and a chilling voice saying: "Wandering girl, at noon on the day appointed by His Majesty the King, you will be escorted by a prison wagon to the gate of Notre Dame, wearing underwear, bare feet, and a rope around your neck, holding a two-pound candle in your hand. , confessed in public there, and from there was escorted to the Piazza del Fleur, where he was hanged on the gallows in the town; this she-goat of yours was also executed; three golden lions were handed over to the Inquisition for Reparation for the crimes of witchcraft, sorcery, prostitution, murder of M. Phoebes de Châtopelle himself, which you have committed and confessed to. May God take hold of your soul!"

"Ah! what a dream!" she murmured to herself, and at once felt that some great rough hands were dragging her away.