Part 107 (2/2)

P.--Hereafter you shall have full liberty to state your argument. For the present you must be content to answer the questions which I shall ask you.

A.--I submit.

P.--Were you not soon to be married?

At this question all eyes are turned towards Miss Chandore, who blushes till she is as red as a poppy, but does not cast down her eyes.

A.--(In a low voice.) Yes.

P.--Did you not write to your betrothed a few hours before the crime was committed?

A.--Yes, sir; and I sent her my letter by the son of one of my tenants, Michael.

P.--What did you write to her?

A.--That important business would prevent me from spending the evening with her.

P.--What was that business?

At the moment when the accused opened his lips to reply, the president stopped him by a gesture, and said,--

P.--Take care! You were asked this question during the preliminary investigation, and you replied that you had to go to Brechy to see your wood-merchant.

A.--I did indeed make that reply on the spur of the moment. It was not exact.

P.--Why did you tell a falsehood?

A.--(After an expression of indignation, which was noticed by all.) I could not believe that I was in danger. It seemed to me impossible that I should be reached by an accusation, which nevertheless, has brought me into this court. Hence I did not deem it necessary to make my private affairs public.

P.--But you very soon found out that you were in danger?

A.--Yes, I did.

P.--Why did you not tell the truth then?

A.--Because the magistrate who carried on the investigation had been too intimate a friend of mine to inspire me with confidence.

P.--Explain yourself more fully.

A.--I must ask leave to say no more. I might, in speaking of M. Galpin, be found to be wanting in moderation.

A low murmur accompanies this reply made by the accused.

P.--Such murmurs are improper, and I remind the audience of the respect due to the court.

M. Gransiere, the prosecuting attorney, rises,--

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