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nakedness of the surroundings and the somewhat meagre aspect of the
figures。 The crucifix was suppressed； its example was no longer held
up before the eyes of justice and of guilt。 All was dull and vulgar。
The paraphernalia so necessary to excite social interest is perhaps a
consolation to criminals。 On this occasion the eagerness of the public
was what it has ever been and ever will be in trials of this kind； so
long as France refuses to recognize that the admission of the public
to the courts involves publicity； and that the publicity given to
trials is a terrible penalty which would never have been inflicted had
legislators reflected on it。 Customs are often more cruel than laws。
Customs are the deeds of men； but laws are the judgment of a nation。
Customs in which there is often no judgment are stronger than laws。
Crowds surrounded the courtroom； the president was obliged to station
squads of soldiers to guard the doors。 The audience； standing below
the bar； was so crowded that persons suffocated。 Monsieur de
Grandville； defending Michu； Bordin； defending the Simeuse brothers；
and a lawyer of Troyes who appeared for the d'Hauteserres； were in
their seats before the opening of the court； their faces wore a look
of confidence。 When the prisoners were brought in； sympathetic murmurs
were heard at the appearance of the young men； whose faces； in twenty
days' imprisonment and anxiety； had somewhat paled。 The perfect
likeness of the twins excited the deepest interest。 Perhaps the
spectators thought that Nature would exercise some special protection
in the case of her own anomalies； and felt ready to join in repairing
the harm done to them by destiny。 Their noble； simple faces； showing
no signs of shame； still less of bravado； touched the women's hearts。
The four gentlemen and Gothard wore the clothes in which they had been
arrested； but Michu； whose coat and trousers were among the 〃articles
of testimony；〃 so…called； had put on his best clothes；a blue
surtout； a brown velvet waistcoat /a la/ Robespierre； and a white
cravat。 The poor man paid the penalty of his dangerous…looking face。
When he cast a glance of his yellow eye； so clear and so profound upon
the audience； a murmur of repulsion answered it。 The assembly chose to
see the finger of God bringing him to the dock where his father…in…law
had sacrificed so many victims。 This man； truly great； looked at his
masters； repressing a smile of scorn。 He seemed to say to them； 〃I am
injuring your cause。〃 Five of the prisoners exchanged greetings with
their counsel。 Gothard still played the part of an idiot。
After several challenges； made with much sagacity by the defence under
advice of the Marquis de Chargeboeuf； who boldly took a seat beside
Bordin and de Grandville； the jury were empanelled； the indictment was
read； and the prisoners were brought up separately to be examined。
They answered every question with remarkable unanimity。 After riding
about the forest all the morning they had returned to Cinq…Cygne for
breakfast at one o'clock。 After that meal； from three to half…past
five in the afternoon； they had returned to the forest。 That was the
basis of each testimony； any variations were merely individual
circumstances。 When the president asked the Messieurs de Simeuse why
they had ridden out so early； they both declared that wishing； since
their return； to buy back Gondreville and intending to make an offer
to Malin who had arrived the night before； they had gone out early
with their cousin and Michu to make certain examinations of the
property on which to base their offer。 During that time the Messieurs
d'Hauteserre； their cousin； and Gothard had chased a wolf which was
reported in the forest by the peasantry。 If the director of the jury
had sought for the prints of their horses' feet in the forest as
carefully as in the park of Gondreville； he would have found proof of
their presence at long distances from the house。
The examination of the Messieurs d'Hauteserre corroborated this
testimony； and was in harmony with their preliminary dispositions。 The
necessity of some reason for their ride suggested to each of them the
excuse of hunting。 The peasants had given warning； a few days earlier；
of a wolf in the forest； and on that they had fastened as a pretext。
The public prosecutor； however； pointed out a discrepancy between the
first statements of the Messieurs d'Hauteserre； in which they
mentioned that the whole party hunted together； and the defence now
made by the Messieurs de Simeuse that their purpose on that day was
the valuation of the forest。
Monsieur de Grandville here called attention to the fact that as the
crime was not committed until after two o'clock in the afternoon； the
prosecution had no ground to question their word when they stated the
manner in which they had employed their morning。
The prosecutor replied that the prisoners had an interest in
concealing their preparations for the abduction of the senator。
The remarkable ability of the defence was now felt。 Judges； jurors；
and audience became aware that victory would be hotly contested。
Bordin and Monsieur de Grandville had studied their ground and
foreseen everything。 Innocence is required to render a clear and
plausible account of its actions。 The duty of the defence is to
present a consistent and probable tale in opposition to an
insufficient and improbable accusation。 To counsel who regard their
client as innocent； an accusation is false。 The public examination of
the four gentlemen sufficiently explained the matter in their favor。
So far all was well。 But the examination of Michu was more serious；
there the real struggle began。 It was now clear to every one why
Monsieur de Grandville had preferred to take charge of the servant's
defence rather than that of his masters。
Michu admitted his threats against Marion； but denied that he had made
them violently。 As for the ambush in which he was supposed to have
watched for his enemy； he said he was merely making his rounds in his
park； the senator and Monsieur Grevin might perhaps have been alarmed
at the sight of his gun and have thought his intentions hostile when
they were really inoffensive。 He called attention to the fact that in
the dusk a man who was not in the habit of hunting might easily fancy
a gun was pointed at him； whereas； in point of fact； it was held in
his hand at half…cock。 To explain the condition of his clothes when
arrested； he said he had slipped and fallen in the breach on his way
home。 〃I could scarcely see my way；〃 he said； 〃and the loose stones
slipped from under me as I climbed the bank。〃 As for the plaster which
Gothard was bringing him； he replied as he had done in all previous
examinations； that he wanted it to secure one of the stone posts of
the covered way。
The public prosecutor and the president asked him to explain how he
could have been at the top of the covered way engaged in mending a
stone post and at the same time in the breach of the moat leading to
the chateau； more especially as the justice of peace； the gendarmes
and the forester all declared they had heard him approach them from
the lower road。 To this Michu replied that Monsieur d'Hauteserre had
blamed him for not having mended the post；which he was anxious to
have finished because there were difficulties about that road with the
township；and he had therefore gone up to the chateau to report that
the work was done。
Monsieur d'Hauteserre had； in fact； put up a fence above the covered
way to prevent the township from taking possession of it。 Michu seeing
the important part which the state of his clothes was likely to play；
invented this subterfuge。 If； in law； truth is often like falsehood；
falsehood on the other hand has a very great resemblance to truth。 The
defence and the prosecution both attached much importance to this
testimony； which became one of the leading points of the trial on
account of the vigor of the defence and the suspicions of the
prosecution。
Gothard； instructed no doubt by Monsieur de Grandville； for up to that
time he had only wept when they questioned him； admitted that Michu
had told him to carry the plaster。
〃Why did neither you nor Gothard take the justice of peace and the
forester to the stone post and show them your work？〃 said the public
prosecutor； addressing Michu。
〃Because；〃 replied the man； 〃I didn't believe there was any serious
accusation against us。〃
All the prisoners except Gothard were now removed from the courtroom。
When Gothard was left alone the president adjured him to speak the
truth for his own sake； pointing out that his pretended idiocy had
come to an end； none of the jurors believed him imbecile； if he
refused to answer the court he ran the risk of serious penalty；
whereas by telling the truth at once he would probably be released。
Gothard wept； hesitated； and finally ended by saying that Michu had
told him to carry several sacks of plaster； but that each time he had
met him near the farm。 He was asked how many sacks he had carried。
〃Three；〃 he replied。
An argument hereupon ensued as to whether the three sacks included the
one which Gothard was carrying at the time