"That is excellent!" he exclaimed. "These gentlemen, the commissioners,
will appreciate that. It was, undoubtedly, in the hope of regaining your
former position that you entered into a conspiracy against a magnanimous
prince with these vile wretches!"
"These peasants are not vile wretches, but misguided men, Monsieur.
Moreover, you know--yes, you know as well as I do myself--that I have
had no hand in this conspiracy."
"You were arrested in the ranks of the conspirators with weapons in your
hands!"
"I was unarmed, Monsieur, as you are well aware; and if I was among
the peasantry, it was only because I hoped to induce them to relinquish
their senseless enterprise."
"You lie!"
The baron paled beneath the insult, but he made no reply.
There was, however, one man in the assemblage who could no longer endure
this horrible and abominable injustice, and this man was Abbe Midon,
who, only a moment before, had advised Maurice to be calm.
He brusquely quitted his place, and advanced to the foot of the
platform.
"The Baron d'Escorval speaks the truth," he cried, in a ringing voice;
"the three hundred prisoners in the citadel will swear to it; these
prisoners here would say the same if they stood upon the guillotine; and
I, who accompanied him, who walked beside him, I, a priest, swear before
the God who will judge all men, Monsieur de Sairmeuse, I swear that all
which it was in human power to do to arrest this movement we have done!"
The duke listened with an ironical smile.
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