English
Thejudgestooktheirplacesinthemidstofthemostprofoundsilence;thejurytooktheirseats;M.deVillefort,theobjectofunusualattention,andwehadalmostsaidofgeneraladmiration,satinthearm–chairandcastatranquilglancearoundhim.
Everyonelookedwithastonishmentonthatgraveandsevereface,whosecalmexpressionpersonalgriefshadbeenunabletodisturb,andtheaspectofamanwhowasastrangertoallhumanemotionsexcitedsomethingveryliketerror.
“Gendarmes,”saidthepresident,“leadintheaccused.”
Atthesewordsthepublicattentionbecamemoreintense,andalleyeswereturnedtowardsthedoorthroughwhichBenedettowastoenter.
Thedoorsoonopenedandtheaccusedappeared.
Thesameimpressionwasexperiencedbyallpresent,andnoonewasdeceivedbytheexpressionofhiscountenance.
Hisfeaturesborenosignofthatdeepemotionwhichstopsthebeatingoftheheartandblanchesthecheek.
Hishands,gracefullyplaced,oneuponhishat,theotherintheopeningofhiswhitewaistcoat,werenotatalltremulous;hiseyewascalmandevenbrilliant.
Scarcelyhadheenteredthehallwhenheglancedatthewholebodyofmagistratesandassistants;hiseyerestedlongeronthepresident,andstillmoresoontheking’sattorney.
BythesideofAndreawasstationedthelawyerwhowastoconducthisdefence,andwhohadbeenappointedbythecourt,forAndreadisdainedtopayanyattentiontothosedetails,towhichheappearedtoattachnoimportance.
Thelawyerwasayoungmanwithlighthairwhosefaceexpressedahundredtimesmoreemotionthanthatwhichcharacterizedtheprisoner.
Thepresidentcalledfortheindictment,revisedasweknow,bythecleverandimplacablepenofVillefort.
Duringthereadingofthis,whichwaslong,thepublicattentionwascontinuallydrawntowardsAndrea,whoboretheinspectionwithSpartanunconcern.
Villeforthadneverbeensoconciseandeloquent.
Thecrimewasdepictedinthemostvividcolors;theformerlifeoftheprisoner,histransformation,areviewofhislifefromtheearliestperiod,weresetforthwithallthetalentthataknowledgeofhumanlifecouldfurnishtoamindlikethatoftheprocureur.
Benedettowasthusforevercondemnedinpublicopinionbeforethesentenceofthelawcouldbepronounced.
Andreapaidnoattentiontothesuccessivechargeswhichwerebroughtagainsthim.
M.deVillefort,whoexaminedhimattentively,andwhonodoubtpracticeduponhimallthepsychologicalstudieshewasaccustomedtouse,invainendeavoredtomakehimlowerhiseyes,notwithstandingthedepthandprofundityofhisgaze.
Atlengththereadingoftheindictmentwasended.
“Accused,”saidthepresident,“yournameandsurname?”Andreaarose.
“Excuseme,Mr.President,”hesaid,inaclearvoice,“butIseeyouaregoingtoadoptacourseofquestionsthroughwhichIcannotfollowyou.
Ihaveanidea,whichIwillexplainbyandby,ofmakinganexceptiontotheusualformofaccusation.
Allowme,then,ifyouplease,toanswerindifferentorder,orIwillnotdosoatall.”
Theastonishedpresidentlookedatthejury,whointurnlookedatVillefort.
Thewholeassemblymanifestedgreatsurprise,butAndreaappearedquiteunmoved.“Yourage?”
saidthepresident;“willyouanswerthatquestion?”
“Iwillanswerthatquestion,aswellastherest,Mr.President,butinitsturn.”
“Yourage?”repeatedthepresident.
“Iamtwenty–oneyearsold,orratherIshallbeinafewdays,asIwasbornthenightofthe27thofSeptember,1817.”
M.deVillefort,whowasbusytakingdownsomenotes,raisedhisheadatthementionofthisdate.“Wherewereyouborn?”continuedthepresident.
“AtAuteuil,nearParis.”M.deVillefortasecondtimeraisedhishead,lookedatBenedettoasifhehadbeengazingattheheadofMedusa,andbecamelivid.
AsforBenedetto,hegracefullywipedhislipswithafinecambricpocket–handkerchief.“Yourprofession?”
“FirstIwasaforger,”answeredAndrea,ascalmlyaspossible;“thenIbecameathief,andlatelyhavebecomeanassassin.”
Amurmur,orratherstorm,ofindignationburstfromallpartsoftheassembly.
Thejudgesthemselvesappearedtobestupefied,andthejurymanifestedtokensofdisgustforcynicismsounexpectedinamanoffashion.
M.deVillefortpressedhishanduponhisbrow,which,atfirstpale,hadbecomeredandburning;thenhesuddenlyaroseandlookedaroundasthoughhehadlosthissenses—hewantedair.
“Areyoulookingforanything,Mr.Procureur?”
askedBenedetto,withhismostingratiatingsmile.
M.deVillefortanswerednothing,butsat,orratherthrewhimselfdownagainuponhischair.
“Andnow,prisoner,willyouconsenttotellyourname?”saidthepresident.
“Thebrutalaffectationwithwhichyouhaveenumeratedandclassifiedyourcrimescallsforaseverereprimandonthepartofthecourt,bothinthenameofmorality,andfortherespectduetohumanity.
Youappeartoconsiderthisapointofhonor,anditmaybeforthisreason,thatyouhavedelayedacknowledgingyourname.
Youwishedittobeprecededbyallthesetitles.”
“Itisquitewonderful,Mr.President,howentirelyyouhavereadmythoughts,”saidBenedetto,inhissoftestvoiceandmostpolitemanner.
“Thisis,indeed,thereasonwhyIbeggedyoutoaltertheorderofthequestions.”
Thepublicastonishmenthadreacheditsheight.
Therewasnolongeranydeceitorbravadointhemanneroftheaccused.
Theaudiencefeltthatastartlingrevelationwastofollowthisominousprelude.
“Well,”saidthepresident;“yourname?”
“Icannottellyoumyname,sinceIdonotknowit;butIknowmyfather’s,andcantellittoyou.”
ApainfulgiddinessoverwhelmedVillefort;greatdropsofacridsweatfellfromhisfaceuponthepaperswhichheheldinhisconvulsedhand.
“Repeatyourfather’sname,”saidthepresident.Notawhisper,notabreath,washeardinthatvastassembly;everyonewaitedanxiously.
“Myfatherisking’sattorney,”repliedAndreacalmly.
“King’sattorney?”saidthepresident,stupefied,andwithoutnoticingtheagitationwhichspreadoverthefaceofM.deVillefort;“king’sattorney?”
“Yes;andifyouwishtoknowhisname,Iwilltellit,—heisnamedVillefort.”
Theexplosion,whichhadbeensolongrestrainedfromafeelingofrespecttothecourtofjustice,nowburstforthlikethunderfromthebreastsofallpresent;thecourtitselfdidnotseektorestrainthefeelingsoftheaudience.
Theexclamations,theinsultsaddressedtoBenedetto,whoremainedperfectlyunconcerned,theenergeticgestures,themovementofthegendarmes,thesneersofthescumofthecrowdalwayssuretorisetothesurfaceincaseofanydisturbance—allthislastedfiveminutes,beforethedoor–keepersandmagistrateswereabletorestoresilence.
Inthemidstofthistumultthevoiceofthepresidentwasheardtoexclaim,—”Areyouplayingwithjustice,accused,anddoyoudaresetyourfellow–citizensanexampleofdisorderwhicheveninthesetimeshasneverbeenequalled?”
SeveralpersonshurrieduptoM.deVillefort,whosathalfbowedoverinhischair,offeringhimconsolation,encouragement,andprotestationsofzealandsympathy.
Orderwasre–establishedinthehall,exceptthatafewpeoplestillmovedaboutandwhisperedtooneanother.
Alady,itwassaid,hadjustfainted;theyhadsuppliedherwithasmelling–bottle,andshehadrecovered.
Duringthesceneoftumult,Andreahadturnedhissmilingfacetowardstheassembly;then,leaningwithonehandontheoakenrailofthedock,inthemostgracefulattitudepossible,hesaid:“Gentlemen,IassureyouIhadnoideaofinsultingthecourt,orofmakingauselessdisturbanceinthepresenceofthishonorableassembly.Theyaskmyage;Itellit.TheyaskwhereIwasborn;Ianswer.
Theyaskmyname,Icannotgiveit,sincemyparentsabandonedme.
ButthoughIcannotgivemyownname,notpossessingone,Icantellthemmyfather’s.
NowIrepeat,myfatherisnamedM.deVillefort,andIamreadytoproveit.”
Therewasanenergy,aconviction,andasincerityinthemanneroftheyoungman,whichsilencedthetumult.
Alleyeswereturnedforamomenttowardstheprocureur,whosatasmotionlessasthoughathunderbolthadchangedhimintoacorpse.
“Gentlemen,”saidAndrea,commandingsilencebyhisvoiceandmanner;“IoweyoutheproofsandexplanationsofwhatIhavesaid.”
“But,”saidtheirritatedpresident,“youcalledyourselfBenedetto,declaredyourselfanorphan,andclaimedCorsicaasyourcountry.”
“IsaidanythingIpleased,inorderthatthesolemndeclarationIhavejustmadeshouldnotbewithheld,whichotherwisewouldcertainlyhavebeenthecase.
InowrepeatthatIwasbornatAuteuilonthenightofthe27thofSeptember,1817,andthatIamthesonoftheprocureur,M.deVillefort.Doyouwishforanyfurtherdetails?Iwillgivethem.
IwasborninNo.28,RuedelaFontaine,inaroomhungwithreddamask;myfathertookmeinhisarms,tellingmymotherIwasdead,wrappedmeinanapkinmarkedwithanHandanN,andcarriedmeintoagarden,whereheburiedmealive.”
AshudderranthroughtheassemblywhentheysawthattheconfidenceoftheprisonerincreasedinproportiontotheterrorofM.deVillefort.
“Buthowhaveyoubecomeacquaintedwithallthesedetails?”askedthepresident.
“Iwilltellyou,Mr.President.Amanwhohadswornvengeanceagainstmyfather,andhadlongwatchedhisopportunitytokillhim,hadintroducedhimselfthatnightintothegardeninwhichmyfatherburiedme.
Hewasconcealedinathicket;hesawmyfatherburysomethingintheground,andstabbedhim;thenthinkingthedepositmightcontainsometreasureheturneduptheground,andfoundmestillliving.
Themancarriedmetothefoundlingasylum,whereIwasregisteredunderthenumber37.
Threemonthsafterwards,awomantravelledfromRoglianotoParistofetchme,andhavingclaimedmeasherson,carriedmeaway.
Thus,yousee,thoughborninParis,IwasbroughtupinCorsica.”
Therewasamoment’ssilence,duringwhichonecouldhavefanciedthehallempty,soprofoundwasthestillness.“Proceed,”saidthepresident.
“Certainly,Imighthavelivedhappilyamongstthosegoodpeople,whoadoredme,butmyperversedispositionprevailedoverthevirtueswhichmyadoptedmotherendeavoredtoinstilintomyheart.
IincreasedinwickednesstillIcommittedcrime.
OnedaywhenIcursedprovidenceformakingmesowicked,andordainingmetosuchafate,myadoptedfathersaidtome,‘Donotblaspheme,unhappychild,thecrimeisthatofyourfather,notyours,—ofyourfather,whoconsignedyoutohellifyoudied,andtomiseryifamiraclepreservedyoualive.’
AfterthatIceasedtoblaspheme,butIcursedmyfather.
ThatiswhyIhaveutteredthewordsforwhichyoublameme;thatiswhyIhavefilledthiswholeassemblywithhorror.
IfIhavecommittedanadditionalcrime,punishme,butifyouwillallowthateversincethedayofmybirthmyfatehasbeensad,bitter,andlamentable,thenpityme.”
“Butyourmother?”askedthepresident.
“Mymotherthoughtmedead;sheisnotguilty.
Ididnotevenwishtoknowhername,nordoIknowit.”
Justthenapiercingcry,endinginasob,burstfromthecentreofthecrowd,whoencircledtheladywhohadbeforefainted,andwhonowfellintoaviolentfitofhysterics.
Shewascarriedoutofthehall,thethickveilwhichconcealedherfacedroppedoff,andMadameDanglarswasrecognized.
Notwithstandinghisshatterednerves,theringingsensationinhisears,andthemadnesswhichturnedhisbrain,Villefortroseasheperceivedher.“Theproofs,theproofs!”
saidthepresident;“rememberthistissueofhorrorsmustbesupportedbytheclearestproofs.”
“Theproofs?”saidBenedetto,laughing;“doyouwantproofs?”
“Yes.”
“Well,then,lookatM.deVillefort,andthenaskmeforproofs.”
Everyoneturnedtowardstheprocureur,who,unabletobeartheuniversalgazenowrivetedonhimalone,advancedstaggeringintothemidstofthetribunal,withhishairdishevelledandhisfaceindentedwiththemarkofhisnails.
Thewholeassemblyutteredalongmurmurofastonishment.
“Father,”saidBenedetto,“Iamaskedforproofs,doyouwishmetogivethem?”
“No,no,itisuseless,”stammeredM.deVillefortinahoarsevoice;“no,itisuseless!”
“Howuseless?”criedthepresident,“whatdoyoumean?”
“ImeanthatIfeelitimpossibletostruggleagainstthisdeadlyweightwhichcrushesme.
Gentlemen,IknowIaminthehandsofanavengingGod!
Weneednoproofs;everythingrelatingtothisyoungmanistrue.”
Adull,gloomysilence,likethatwhichprecedessomeawfulphenomenonofnature,pervadedtheassembly,whoshudderedindismay.
“What,M.deVillefort,”criedthepresident,“doyouyieldtoanhallucination?
What,areyounolongerinpossessionofyoursenses?
Thisstrange,unexpected,terribleaccusationhasdisorderedyourreason.Come,recover.”
Theprocureurdroppedhishead;histeethchatteredlikethoseofamanunderaviolentattackoffever,andyethewasdeadlypale.
“Iaminpossessionofallmysenses,sir,”hesaid;“mybodyalonesuffers,asyoumaysuppose.
Iacknowledgemyselfguiltyofalltheyoungmanhasbroughtagainstme,andfromthishourholdmyselfundertheauthorityoftheprocureurwhowillsucceedme.”
Andashespokethesewordswithahoarse,chokingvoice,hestaggeredtowardsthedoor,whichwasmechanicallyopenedbyadoor–keeper.
ThewholeassemblyweredumbwithastonishmentattherevelationandconfessionwhichhadproducedacatastrophesodifferentfromthatwhichhadbeenexpectedduringthelastfortnightbytheParisianworld.
“Well,”saidBeauchamp,“letthemnowsaythatdramaisunnatural!”
“Mafoi!”saidChateau–Renaud,“IwouldratherendmycareerlikeM.deMorcerf;apistol–shotseemsquitedelightfulcomparedwiththiscatastrophe.”
“Andmoreover,itkills,”saidBeauchamp.
“AndtothinkthatIhadanideaofmarryinghisdaughter,”saidDebray.“Shedidwelltodie,poorgirl!”
“Thesittingisadjourned,gentlemen,”saidthepresident;“freshinquirieswillbemade,andthecasewillbetriednextsessionbyanothermagistrate.”
AsforAndrea,whowascalmandmoreinterestingthanever,heleftthehall,escortedbygendarmes,whoinvoluntarilypaidhimsomeattention.
“Well,whatdoyouthinkofthis,myfinefellow?”
askedDebrayofthesergeant–at–arms,slippingalouisintohishand.
“Therewillbeextenuatingcircumstances,”hereplied.
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