Woman on Her Own, False Gods and The Red Robe Part 88

THE PRESIDENT. It was when you exclaimed, "Gentlemen of the jury, you own houses, farms, and property; you have beloved wives, and daughters whom you tenderly cherish. Beware--" You were splendid there!

[_Resuming_] "Beware, if you leave such crimes unpunished; beware, if you allow yourselves to be led astray by the eloquent sentimentality of the defence; beware, I tell you, if you fail in your duty as the instrument of justice; beware, lest those above you s.n.a.t.c.h up the sword which has fallen from your feeble hands, when the blood that you have not avenged will be spilt upon you and yours!" That was fine! Very fine!

And it produced a great effect.

BUNERAT. But you, my dear President, you moved them even more noticeably when you recalled the fact, very appropriately, that the accused loved the sight of blood.

THE PRESIDENT. Ah, yes, that told a little!

ALL. What? What was that?

BUNERAT. The President put this question: "On the morning of the crime did you not slaughter two sheep?" "Yes," replied the accused. And then, looking him straight in the eyes--

THE PRESIDENT. Yes, I asked him: "You were getting into practice, weren't you?" [_To Vagret_] But after all, if I have to a certain extent affected the result, the greater part of the honor of the day is yours.

VAGRET. You are too kind.

THE PRESIDENT. Not at all! And your peroration! [_With an artist's curiosity_] You were really, were you not, under the stress of a great emotion, a really great emotion?

VAGRET [_gravely_] Yes, I was under the stress of a great emotion, a really great emotion.

THE PRESIDENT. You turned quite pale when you faced the jury--when you added, in a clear voice, "Gentlemen, I demand the head of this man!"

VAGRET [_his eyes fixed_] Yes.

THE PRESIDENT. Then you made a sign to the advocate.

VAGRET. Yes. I thought he would have something else to say.

THE PRESIDENT. But why delay the verdict? You had won the victory.

VAGRET. Precisely.

THE PRESIDENT. What do you mean?

VAGRET. During my indictment a fact came to light that worried me.

THE PRESIDENT. A fact?

VAGRET. Not a fact--but--in short--[_A pause_] I beg your pardon--I am very tired--

THE PRESIDENT. I can very well understand your emotion, my dear Vagret. One always feels--on the occasion of one's first death sentence--but--you will see one gets used to it. [_Going out, to Bunerat_] Indeed, he does look very tired.

BUNERAT. I fancy he is feeling his position too keenly.

VAGRET. As I was leaving the Court I met the Attorney-General. I begged him urgently to give me a moment's conversation. I wanted to speak with him alone--and with you, Monsieur le President.

BUNERAT. As you wish.

MADAME VAGRET. I am afraid you are unwell, my dear. I shall wait there.

I will come back directly these gentlemen have gone.

VAGRET. Very well.

MADAME BUNERAT [_going out, to her husband_] There's a man ready to do something stupid.

BUNERAT. That doesn't concern us.

_They go out._

SCENE VIII:--_Vagret, the President of a.s.sizes, then the Attorney-General._

THE PRESIDENT. Did you notice any mistake on my part in the direction of the case?

VAGRET. No, if any mistake was made, it was I who made it.

_The Attorney-General enters._

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. What is this that is so serious, my dear sir?

VAGRET. It's this--I am more worried than I can say. I want to appeal to the conscience of you two gentlemen--to rea.s.sure myself--

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Tell us.

VAGRET. A whole series of facts--the att.i.tude of the accused--certain details which had escaped me--have given rise, in my mind, to a doubt as to the guilt of this man.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Was there any mention of these facts, these details, in the brief?

VAGRET. Certainly.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Had the advocate studied this brief?

VAGRET. Naturally.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Well, then? What are you worrying yourself about?

VAGRET. But--suppose the man is not guilty?

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. The jury will decide. We can do no more, all of us, than bow to its verdict.

VAGRET. Let me tell you, sir, how my convictions have been shaken.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. I do not wish to know. All that is a matter between yourself and your conscience. You have the right to explain your scruples to the jury. You know the proverb: "The pen is a slave, but speech is free."

VAGRET. I shall follow your advice.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. I do not give you any advice.

VAGRET. I shall explain my doubts to the jury.