Part 41 (1/2)
”But what is to become of the completeness of the record?” cried Volgyeshy, angrily.
”It's a stupid formality. See chapter 6. paragraph 5. of the articles, where it is provided that the court is at liberty to dispense with the forms of the courts at law.”
”Yes, we can do as we please, and in the very teeth of all manners of forms, too,” said the Baron.
”Of course you can hang the prisoner!” shouted Volgyeshy; ”but I protest that what you do is an act of violence, not of justice!”
”Hold your tongue, sir!----”
”The members of this court have no right to sit in it!--I appeal to the articles!”
”Outrageous!” cried Zatonyi, rising from his chair; ”what! are we not a.s.sessors?--have we not taken our oaths?--are we not----?”
”Are we not lawyers of unblemished character?--men of firmness and impartiality?” continued the Baron.
”Turn him out!” roared Mr. Skinner.
”Actio! Actio!” gasped Baron Shoskuty in his turn.
”I protest you are not impartial!” said Volgyeshy.
”Bliktri!” snarled Zatonyi; ”what have the articles to do with impartiality?”
”Very true! but suppose impartiality _were_ required,” said Shoskuty, violently, ”suppose it _were_ required, what then? Are we not strictly impartial? Which of us has said a single word in favour of the prisoner, unless it be you? but, goodness be thanked! you've no vote, sir!”
”I am curious to know how you would manage to prove our want of impartiality?” said Mr. Catspaw.
”I'll satisfy your curiosity, sir,” said the young lawyer. ”As for you, you are accused, and it is evidently your interest to do away with the accusation and the accuser. Of Mr. Skinner's want of impartiality there can be no question. What shall we say of a judge who degrades his office to the level of the hangman?”
”Meanness! Impertinence! Turn him out! Actio!” screamed the judges.
”No! You are not impartial! You are thirsting for the prisoner's blood!
You want his life to s.h.i.+eld your own misdeeds! There is vendetta between you and the prisoner! But I will not suffer it! I will publish the proceedings! I will complain to the lord-lieutenant! I will----”
”Base informer! are you aware of the laws of 1805? Turn him out!” roared the court; and Volgyeshy, finding that nothing could persuade them, turned to leave the room, when Mr. Skinner rose and seized him by the arm.
”Be off, you miscreant!” roared the valorous judge.
Volgyeshy pushed him back, and taking his hat, he bowed to the president, and withdrew.
The uproar in the justice-room attracted the attention of the people outside in no slight degree. The conversation of the haiduks, Pandurs, witnesses, and servants gradually ceased, and every one listened to the noise of angry voices in the justice-room. The Liptaka sat close by the door listening to the dispute, and from time to time she would turn to the smith and inform him that Viola's case was very bad; ”for,” said she, ”if the gentlemen get out of temper with each other, they always manage to make a poor body suffer for it:” a remark to which the smith did not fail to respond with deep sighs.
Viola alone paid no attention to the quarrels of his judges. Surrounded by a troop of armed men, he leaned against one of the wooden pillars of the hall, looking towards the gate where his wife and children stood.
All the robber's thoughts were of them. When the door opened, and Volgyeshy entered the hall, Viola turned round, for he thought they had sent for him to read his sentence. He longed for it; for the Pandurs had told him that, after hearing it, he would be allowed to speak to his wife. Calling to Volgyeshy, as the latter approached, he said: ”Is it over?”
”Not quite,” answered the lawyer.
”But why do you leave them?”
”I have no vote. I cannot be of any use to you.”
”I thought so,” said Viola, with a bitter smile. ”G.o.d bless you for having given yourself all this trouble for the sake of a poor man; but, if you will show me pity, tell them to allow my wife to come to me.