Part 51 (2/2)

A court-martial was, of course, hasty and often unjust in its decisions; but still, it observed some of the forms of procedure practised in judicial tribunals. It still preserved something of the solemnity of legal justice, which desires to be enlightened before it condemns.

A military commission would infallibly neglect all legal forms; and summarily condemn and punish the accused parties, as in time of war a spy is tried and punished.

”What!” exclaimed Maurice, ”they dare to condemn without investigating, without listening to testimony, without allowing the accused time to prepare any defence?”

The abbe was silent. This exceeded his most sinister apprehensions. Now, he believed anything possible.

Maurice spoke of an investigation. It had commenced that day, and it was still going on by the light of the jailer's lantern.

That is to say, the Duc de Sairmeuse and the Marquis de Courtornieu were pa.s.sing the prisoners in review.

They numbered three hundred, and the duke and his companion had decided to summon before the commission thirty of the most dangerous conspirators.

How were they to select them? By what method could they discover the extent of each prisoner's guilt? It would have been difficult for them to explain.

They went from one to another, asking any question that entered their minds, and after the terrified man replied, according as they thought his countenance good or bad, they said to the jailer who accompanied them: ”Keep this one until another time,” or, ”This one for to-morrow.”

By daylight, they had thirty names upon their list: and the names of the Baron d'Escorval and Chanlouineau led all the rest.

Although the unhappy party at the Hotel de France could not suspect this fact, they suffered an agony of fear and dread through the long night which seemed to them eternal.

As soon as day broke, they heard the beating of the _reveille_ at the citadel; the hour when they might commence their efforts anew had come.

The abbe announced that he was going alone to the duke's house, and that he would find a way to force an entrance.

He had bathed his red and swollen eyes in fresh water, and was prepared to start on his expedition, when someone rapped cautiously at the door of the chamber.

Maurice cried: ”Come in,” and M. Laugeron instantly entered the room.

His face announced some dreadful misfortune; and the worthy man was really terrified. He had just learned that the military commission had been organized.

In contempt of all human laws and the commonest rules of justice, the presidency of this tribunal of vengeance and of hatred had been bestowed upon the Duc de Sairmeuse.

And he had accepted it--he who was at the same time to play the part of partic.i.p.ant, witness, and judge.

The other members of the commission were military men.

”And when does the commission enter upon its functions?” inquired the abbe.

”To-day,” replied the host, hesitatingly; ”this morning--in an hour--perhaps sooner!”

The abbe understood what M. Laugeron meant, but dared not say: ”The commission is a.s.sembling, make haste.”

”Come!” he said to Maurice, ”I wish to be present when your father is examined.”

Ah! what would not the baroness have given to follow the priest and her son? But she could not; she understood this, and submitted.

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