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What does he offer in opposition to this overwhelming unanimity？
His denial。 What obduracy！
You will do justice； gentlemen of the jury； etc。； etc。 While the district…attorney was speaking； the accused listened to him open…mouthed； with a sort of amazement in which some admiration was assuredly blended。
He was evidently surprised that a man could talk like that。
From time to time； at those 〃energetic〃 moments of the prosecutor's speech； when eloquence which cannot contain itself overflows in a flood of withering epithets and envelops the accused like a storm； he moved his head slowly from right to left and from left to right in the sort of mute and melancholy protest with which he had contented himself since the beginning of the argument。 Two or three times the spectators who were nearest to him heard him say in a low voice； 〃That is what es of not having asked M。 Baloup。〃 The district…attorney directed the attention of the jury to this stupid attitude； evidently deliberate； which denoted not imbecility； but craft； skill； a habit of deceiving justice； and which set forth in all its nakedness the 〃profound perversity〃 of this man。 He ended by making his reserves on the affair of Little Gervais and demanding a severe sentence。
At that time； as the reader will remember； it was penal servitude for life。
The counsel for the defence rose； began by plimenting Monsieur l'Avocat…General on his 〃admirable speech；〃 then replied as best he could； but he weakened； the ground was evidently slipping away from under his feet。
BOOK SEVENTH。THE CHAMPMATHIEU AFFAIR
CHAPTER X
THE SYSTEM OF DENIALS
The moment for closing the debate had arrived。
The President had the accused stand up； and addressed to him the customary question； 〃Have you anything to add to your defence？〃
The man did not appear to understand； as he stood there； twisting in his hands a terrible cap which he had。
The President repeated the question。
This time the man heard it。
He seemed to understand。
He made a motion like a man who is just waking up； cast his eyes about him； stared at the audience； the gendarmes； his counsel； the jury； the court； laid his monstrous fist on the rim of woodwork in front of his bench； took another look； and all at once； fixing his glance upon the district…attorney； he began to speak。
It was like an eruption。 It seemed； from the manner in which the words escaped from his mouth； incoherent； impetuous； pell…mell； tumbling over each other； as though they were all pressing forward to issue forth at once。 He said：
〃This is what I have to say。
That I have been a wheelwright in Paris； and that it was with Monsieur Baloup。
It is a hard trade。 In the wheelwright's trade one works always in the open air； in courtyards； under sheds when the masters are good； never in closed workshops； because space is required； you see。
In winter one gets so cold that one beats one's arms together to warm one's self； but the masters don't like it； they say it wastes time。 Handling iron when there is ice between the paving…stones is hard work。 That wears a man out quickly One is old while he is still quite young in that trade。
At forty a man is done for。
I was fifty…three。 I was in a bad state。
And then； workmen are so mean！
When a man is no longer young； they call him nothing but an old bird； old beast！ I was not earning more than thirty sous a day。
They paid me as little as possible。
The masters took advantage of my age and then I had my daughter； who was a laundress at the river。 She earned a little also。
It sufficed for us two。
She had trouble； also； all day long up to her waist in a tub； in rain； in snow。 When the wind cuts your face； when it freezes； it is all the same； you must still wash。
There are people who have not much linen； and wait until late； if you do not wash； you lose your custom。 The planks are badly joined； and water drops on you from everywhere； you have your petticoats all damp above and below。
That penetrates。 She has also worked at the laundry of the Enfants…Rouges； where the water es through faucets。
You are not in the tub there； you wash at the faucet in front of you； and rinse in a basin behind you。
As it is enclosed； you are not so cold； but there is that hot steam； which is terrible； and which ruins your eyes。 She came home at seven o'clock in the evening； and went to bed at once； she was so tired。
Her husband beat her。
She is dead。 We have not been very happy。
She was a good girl； who did not go to the ball； and who was very peaceable。
I remember one Shrove…Tuesday when she went to bed at eight o'clock。 There； I am telling the truth； you have only to ask。
Ah； yes！ how stupid I am！
Paris is a gulf。 Who knows Father Champmathieu there？
But M。 Baloup does； I tell you。 Go see at M。 Baloup's； and after all； I don't know what is wanted of me。〃
The man ceased speaking； and remained standing。
He had said these things in a loud； rapid； hoarse voice； with a sort of irritated and savage ingenuousness。
Once he paused to salute some one in the crowd。 The sort of affirmations which he seemed to fling out before him at random came like hiccoughs； and to each he added the gesture of a wood…cutter who is splitting wood。
When he had finished； the audience burst into a laugh。
He stared at the public； and； perceiving that they were laughing； and not understanding why； he began to laugh himself。
It was inauspicious。
The President； an attentive and benevolent man； raised his voice。
He reminded 〃the gentlemen of the jury〃 that 〃the sieur Baloup； formerly a master…wheelwright； with whom the accused stated that he had served； had been summoned in vain。
He had bee bankrupt； and was not to be found。〃
Then turning to the accused； he enjoined him to listen to what he was about to say； and added：
〃You are in a position where reflection is necessary。
The gravest presumptions rest upon you； and may induce vital results。
Prisoner； in your own interests； I summon you for the last time to explain yourself clearly on two point