Part 40 (2/2)
”It's infamous!” said Zatonyi.
”You ought to be ashamed of yourself, sir!” snarled Mr. Catspaw.
”Gentlemen,” said Volgyeshy, when their frantic rage had in a manner subsided, ”I meant no offence to any of you. Allow me to explain what I said.”
”Explain? What the devil do you mean to explain, sir?” cried Zatonyi.
”Do you mean to say, sir, that we are murderers? Are you aware that you have no vote? To insult the judges is an infamous act; d--n you, sir, you're infamous, sir!”
”Yes!” said the Baron; ”let us pa.s.s a resolution to that effect.”
”Do you mean to do it by court-martial?” asked Volgyeshy, with a scornful smile.
”Yes, sir! In any way, sir! I'm sure _I_ don't care. Whoever insults the judges or the court is infamous! That's written law, sir! it's in the _corpus juris_. And you'll find it law, sir, and to your cost, sir!”
”It is _ad horribilationem_!” groaned Zatonyi.
”You may, if you please, pa.s.s a resolution of infamy against me,” said Volgyeshy; ”but permit me, not indeed for the sake of those who care for nothing except the execution of the prisoner, but out of love and respect for your president----”
”_Captatio benevolentiae!_” cried Zatonyi. ”Our respected president wants no flatteries from the like of you!”
”----direct the attention of the court----”
”The attention of the court wants no direction whatever,” said the Baron.
”----to the heavy responsibility which rests with every one of you, if the present proceedings are brought to a fatal end.”
”What, the devil! are the judges to be made responsible? I never in all my life----”
”Halljuk! halljuk!” said Kishlaki, who listened with great eagerness.
Volgyeshy took the articles, and pointed out to the court that their safety consisted in the strict legality of their proceedings, and that the present case did not come within their jurisdiction.
”_Cra.s.sa ignorantia!_” said Zatonyi, contemptuously, ”as is but too common among the young gentlemen of the present day. Viola's case is a court-martial case with a vengeance!”
”But the details----”
”_Cra.s.sa ignorantia!_” cried the a.s.sessor, raising his voice. ”Did he not resist the capture? Did he steal Tengelyi's papers because they were eatables? which, I admit, would const.i.tute an extenuating circ.u.mstance; or is he under age, or a lunatic? Or is the gang to which he belongs indicted before any court at law?”
Volgyeshy remarked, that the case was so intricate that it would take the court at least three days to sift it.
”Three days, indeed! I'd do away with twenty of these rascals in much less time than that!”
”It seems you have forgotten what the prisoner said concerning certain accusations----”
”Which have nothing whatever to do with the question at issue,” cried Baron Shoskuty; ”there's no mention of them in the minutes. I mean to forget them.”
”Sir!”
”Baron Shoskuty is right,” said the a.s.sessor; ”the prisoner's nonsensical talk has nothing in common with the _species facti_--it's no use mentioning it.”
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