THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ÉMILE ZOLA. Эмиль Золя

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СКАЧАТЬ by the aid of bad books: the truth being that he had lent her two utterly puerile works by Madame de Genlis. The indictment further said on the strength of Blanche’s version of the story, that she had been carried away by force, that she had clung to an almond-tree, and that during the flight the abductor had resorted to violence to oblige his victim to follow him. The gravest allegation was founded on one of Blanche’s depositions: she pretended she had never written Philippe any letters and that the two produced by him were antedated ones which he had made her write at Lambesc, by way of precaution.

      When the reading of the indictment was finished, the place became filled with the noisy murmur of innumerable private conversations. Each spectator, before coming to the courthouse, had his own version, and now was discussing in a low voice the official one. Outside, the mob was howling. The presiding judge threatened to have the hall cleared, and silence was gradually restored.

      Philippe’s examination was then proceeded with. When the presiding judge had asked the usual preliminary questions and had repeated to him the particulars of the indictment drawn up against him, the young man, without refuting them, exclaimed in a clear voice:

      “I am accused of having been carried off by a young girl!”

      These words caused a general laugh. The ladies hid themselves behind their fans to give full vent to their feelings. Philippe’s words, foolish and absurd as they seemed, contained nevertheless a great deal of truth.

      The presiding judge sensibly observed that no one had ever known a man of thirty to be carried off by a girl of sixteen, to which Philippe quietly replied:

      “Neither has anyone ever seen a girl of sixteen wandering along the highways, passing through towns, meeting hundreds of people, without appealing to the first person she encountered to deliver her from her abductor, her gaoler.”

      And he endeavoured to show the material impossibility of the acts of violence and intimidation of which he was accused. At every hour of the day, Blanche had been free to leave him, to procure aid and succour; if she had accompanied him, it was because she loved him and had consented to the flight. In addition to this, Philippe expressed the greatest affection for the young girl, and the greatest deference for M. de Cazalis. He admitted his errors, and merely asked not to be branded as an infamous abductor.

      The trial was adjourned to the morrow for the hearing of the witnesses. That night the town was in an uproar; the ladies spoke of Philippe with affected indignation, serious men referred to him more or less severely, while the lower classes energetically took his part.

      On the morrow, the crowd outside the courthouse was, if anything, larger and noisier than on the previous day. The witnesses were nearly all for the prosecution. M. de Girousse had not been summoned; his rough frankness was dreaded; and, moreover, he should rather have been arrested as an accomplice. Marius had begged him not to compromise himself in the affair; he also feared the old count’s violence, which might spoil everything.

      There was scarcely more than the evidence of one witness in Philippe’s favour, that of the innkeeper at Lambesc, who declared that Blanche was accompanying her lover of her own free will.

      This evidence was, however, effaced, so to say, by the depositions of the other witnesses. Marguerite, the milkwoman, stammered and said she no longer remembered having brought the accused any letters from Mademoiselle de Cazalis. It was thus that each witness served the deputy’s interest, either through fear, or stupidity and loss of memory.

      The pleadings commenced and went into the third day.

      Philippe’s counsel defended him with dignified simplicity. He did not seek to excuse what was reprehensible in his conduct; he described him as being an ardent, ambitious man led astray by dreams of love and wealth. But at the same time, he showed that the accused could not be convicted of abduction, and that the affair itself negative all idea of violence and intimidation.

      The crown attorney’s speech was most vindictive. It was expected that it would have been milder, and his energetic accusations produced a disastrous effect.

      The jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and Philippe Cayol was condemned to five years’ imprisonment and to be exhibited in the pillory on one of the public squares of Marseille.

      The gardener Ayasse was only condemned to a few months’ imprisonment.

      The sentences were received with murmurs in the courtroom, whilst outside the crowd howled with rage.

      CHAPTER XI

      HOW BLANCHE AND FINE FIND THEMSELVES FACE TO FACE

      WHEN sentence was passed on Philippe, Blanche was present, hidden at the back of the gallery.

      She was there by order of her uncle, who had wished to completely stamp out her affection, by showing her her lover standing between two gendarmes, like a thief. An elderly lady relative had consented to accompany her to this edifying scene.

      As the two ladies were awaiting their carriage on the steps of the courthouse, the crowd, pushing forward, suddenly separated them. Blanche, who was dragged to the centre of the Place des Prêcheurs, was recognised by the market-women, who began hooting and insulting her.

      “That’s her, that’s her!” shouted the women, “the Renegade, the Renegade!”

      The poor bewildered child, not knowing where to fly to, was half dead with shame and fright, when a young girl energetically divided the howling mob that surrounded her and placed herself at her side.

      It was Fine.

      The flower-girl had also been to hear sentence passed on Philippe. For the space of nearly three hours she had passed through all the anguish of hope and fear; the crown attorney’s speech had been crushing, and on hearing the judgment she had begun to weep.

      She had just quitted the courthouse, irritated and in a terrible state of excitement, when the hooting of the market-women reached her. She understood that Blanche was there and that she would be able to avenge herself by abusing her; she dashed forward with clenched fists, and an insult ready on her lip. According to her, the young girl was the great culprit: she had lied, she had been guilty of perjury and cowardice. At this thought all Fine’s plebeian blood rushed to her face and urged her on to shout and strike.

      She rushed forward and separated the crowd to take her share of vengeance.

      But, when she was face to face with Blanche, when she saw her doubled in two by fright, she had pity for the weak and trembling child. She found her so small, so captivating, so delicately fragile, that a generous thought of pardon came from her heart. She violently pushed back the women who were shaking their fists at the young lady, and, stretching herself to her full height, exclaimed in a loud voice:

      “And what now? Aren’t you ashamed? She is alone and you are a hundred against her. The Almighty doesn’t require your shouts to punish her. Let us pass.”

      She had taken Blanche’s hand, and stood erect before the murmuring people, who drew closer together so as not to allow the two young girls to get through them. Fine awaited with pale and trembling lips. And, as she encouraged the little lady with a glance, she perceived that she would soon be a mother. She turned quite pale and advanced towards the women.

      “Let me pass,” she continued, with greater violence. “Do you not see the poor girl’s condition, and that you will kill her child?”

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