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a great impression。
The four gentlemen remained impassible during the examination of their
enemy； who seemed determined to overwhelm them with generosity。
Laurence suffered horrible agony。 From time to time the Marquis de
Chargeboeuf held her by the arm； fearing she might dart forward to the
rescue。 The Comte de Gondreville retired from the courtroom and as he
did so he bowed to the four gentlemen； who did not return the
salutation。 This trifling matter made the jury indignant。
〃They are lost now；〃 whispered Bordin to the Marquis de Chargeboeuf。
〃Alas； yes！ and always through the nobility of their sentiments；〃
replied the marquis。
〃My task is now only too easy； gentlemen；〃 said the prosecutor； rising
to address the jury。
He explained the use of the cement by the necessity of securing an
iron frame on which to fasten a padlock which held the iron bar with
which the gate of the cavern was closed； a description of which was
given in the /proces…verbal/ made that morning by Pigoult。 He put the
falsehoods of the accused into the strongest light； and pulverized the
arguments of the defence with the new evidence so miraculously
obtained。 In 1806 France was still too near the Supreme Being of 1793
to talk about divine justice； he therefore spared the jury all
reference to the intervention of heaven； but he said that earthly
justice would be on the watch for the mysterious accomplices who had
set the senator at liberty； and he sat down； confidently awaiting the
verdict。
The jury believed there was a mystery； but they were all persuaded
that it came from the prisoners； who were probably concealing some
matter of a private interest of great importance to them。
Monsieur de Grandville； to whom a plot or machination of some kind was
quite evident； rose； but he seemed discouraged；less； however； by the
new evidence than by the manifest opinion of the jury。 He surpassed；
if anything； his speech of the previous evening； his argument was more
compact and logical； but he felt his fervor repelled by the coldness
of the jury； he spoke ineffectually； and he knew it；a chilling
situation for an advocate。 He called attention to the fact that the
release of the senator； as if by magic and clearly without the aid of
any of the accused or of Marthe； corroborated his previous argument。
Yesterday the prisoners could most surely rely on acquittal； and if
they had； as the prosecution claimed； the power to hold or to release
the senator； they certainly would not have released him until after
their acquittal。 He endeavored to bring before the minds of the Court
and jury the fact that mysterious enemies； undiscovered as yet； could
alone have struck the accused this final blow。
Strange to say； the only minds Monsieur de Grandville reached with
this argument were those of the public prosecutor and the judges。 The
jury listened perfunctorily； the audience； usually so favorable to
prisoners； were convinced of their guilt。 In a court of justice the
sentiments of the crowd do unquestionably weigh upon the judges and
the jury； and /vice versa/。 Seeing this condition of the minds about
him； which could be felt if not defined； the counsel uttered his last
words in a tone of passionate excitement caused by his conviction：
〃In the name of the accused；〃 he cried； 〃I forgive you for the fatal
error you are about to commit； and which nothing can repair！ We are
the victims of some mysterious and Machiavellian power。 Marthe Michu
was inveigled by vile perfidy。 You will discover this too late； when
the evil you now do will be irreparable。〃
Bordin simply claimed the acquittal of the prisoners on the testimony
of the senator himself。
The president summed up the case with all the more impartiality
because it was evident that the minds of the jurors were already made
up。 He even turned the scales in favor of the prisoners by dwelling on
the senator's evidence。 This clemency； however； did not in the least
endanger the success of the prosecution。 At eleven o'clock that night；
after the jury had replied through their foreman to the usual
questions； the Court condemned Michu to death； the Messieurs de
Simeuse to twenty…four years' and the Messieurs d'Hauteserre to ten
years； penal servitude at hard labor。 Gothard was acquitted。
The whole audience was eager to observe the bearing of the five guilty
men in this supreme moment of their lives。 The four gentlemen looked
at Laurence； who returned them； with dry eyes； the ardent look of the
martyrs。
〃She would have wept had we been acquitted；〃 said the younger de
Simeuse to his brother。
Never did convicted men meet an unjust fate with serener brows or
countenances more worthy of their manhood than these five victims of a
cruel plot。
〃Our counsel has forgiven you；〃 said the eldest de Simeuse to the
Court。
*****
Madame d'Hauteserre fell ill； and was three months in her bed at the
hotel de Chargeboeuf。 Monsieur d'Hauteserre returned patiently to
Cinq…Cygne； inwardly gnawed by one of those sorrows of old age which
have none of youth's distractions； often he was so absent…minded that
the abbe； who watched him； knew the poor father was living over again
the scene of the fatal verdict。 Marthe passed away from all blame； she
died three weeks after the condemnation of her husband； confiding her
son to Laurence； in whose arms she died。
The trial once over； political events of the utmost importance effaced
even the memory of it； and nothing further was discovered。 Society is
like the ocean； it returns to its level and its specious calmness
after a disaster； effacing all traces of it in the tide of its eager
interests。
Without her natural firmness of mind and her knowledge of her cousins'
innocence； Laurence would have succumbed； but she gave fresh proof of
the grandeur of her character； she astonished Monsieur de Grandville
and Bordin by the apparent serenity which these terrible misfortunes
called forth in her noble soul。 She nursed Madame d'Hauteserre and
went daily to the prison； saying openly that she would marry one of
the cousins when they were taken to the galleys。
〃To the galleys！〃 cried Bordin； 〃Mademoiselle！ our first endeavor must
be to wring their pardon from the Emperor。〃
〃Their pardon！/from a Bonaparte/？〃 cried Laurence in horror。
The spectacles of the old lawyer jumped from his nose； he caught them
as they fell and looked at the young girl who was now indeed a woman；
he understood her character at last in all its bearings； then he took
the arm of the Marquis de Chargeboeuf； saying：
〃Monsieur le Marquis； let us go to Paris instantly and save them
without her！〃
The appeal of the Messieurs de Simeuse and d'Hauteserre and that of
Michu was the first case to be brought before the new court。 Its
decision was fortunately delayed by the ceremonies attending its
installation。
CHAPTER XIX
THE EMPEROR'S BIVOUAC
Towards the end of September； after three sessions of the Court of
Appeals in which the lawyers for the defence pleaded； and the
attorney…general Merlin himself spoke for the prosecution； the appeal
was rejected。 The Imperial Court of Paris was by this time instituted。
Monsieur de Grandville was appointed assistant attorney…general； and
the department of the Aube coming under the jurisdiction of this
court； it became possible for him to take certain steps in favor of
the convicted prisoners； among them that of importuning Cambaceres；
his protector。 Bordin and Monsieur de Chargeboeuf came to his house in
the Marais the day after the appeal was rejected； where they found him
in the midst of his honeymoon； for he had married in the interval。 In
spite of all these changes in his condition； Monsieur de Chargeboeuf
saw very plainly that the young lawyer was faithful to his late
clients。 Certain lawyers； the artists of their profession； treat their
causes like mistresses。 This is rare； however； and must not be
depended on。
As soon as they were alone in his study； Monsieur de Grandville said
to the marquis： 〃I have not waited for your visit； I have already
employed all my influence。 Don't attempt to save Michu； if you do； you
cannot obtain the pardon of the Messieurs de Simeuse。 The law will
insist on one victim。〃
〃Good God！〃 cried Bordin； showing the young magistrate the three
petitions for mercy； 〃how can I take upon myself to withdraw the
application for that man。 If I suppress the paper I cut off his head。〃
He held out the petition； de Grandville took it； looked it over； and
said：
〃We can't suppress it； but be sure of one thing； if you ask all you
will obtain nothing。〃
〃Have we time to consult Michu？〃 asked Bordin。
〃Yes。 The order for execution comes from the office of the attorney…
general； I will see that you have some days。 We kill men；〃 he said
with some bitterness； 〃but at least we do it formally； especially in
Paris。〃
Monsieur de Chargeboeuf had already received from the chief justice
certain information which added weight to these sad words of Monsieur
de Grandville。
〃Michu is innocent； I know；〃 continued the young lawyer； 〃but what can
we do against so many？ Remember； too； that my present influence
depends on my keeping silent。 I