按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Prisoner； in your own interests； I summon you for the last time to explain yourself clearly on two points。
In the first place； did you or did you not climb the wall of the Pierron orchard； break the branch； and steal the apples； that is to say； mit the crime of breaking in and theft？ In the second place； are you the discharged convict； Jean Valjean yes or no？〃
The prisoner shook his head with a capable air； like a man who has thoroughly understood； and who knows what answer he is going to make。 He opened his mouth； turned towards the President； and said：
〃In the first place〃
Then he stared at his cap； stared at the ceiling； and held his peace。
〃Prisoner；〃 said the district…attorney； in a severe voice； 〃pay attention。
You are not answering anything that has been asked of you。
Your embarrassment condemns you。
It is evident that your name is not Champmathieu； that you are the convict； Jean Valjean； concealed first under the name of Jean Mathieu； which was the name of his mother； that you went to Auvergne； that you were born at Faverolles； where you were a pruner of trees。 It is evident that you have been guilty of entering； and of the theft of ripe apples from the Pierron orchard。
The gentlemen of the jury will form their own opinion。〃
The prisoner had finally resumed his seat； he arose abruptly when the district…attorney had finished； and exclaimed：
〃You are very wicked； that you are！
This what I wanted to say； I could not find words for it at first。
I have stolen nothing。 I am a man who does not have something to eat every day。 I was ing from Ailly； I was walking through the country after a shower； which had made the whole country yellow：
even the ponds were overflowed； and nothing sprang from the sand any more but the little blades of grass at the wayside。
I found a broken branch with apples on the ground； I picked up the branch without knowing that it would get me into trouble。
I have been in prison； and they have been dragging me about for the last three months； more than that I cannot say； people talk against me； they tell me； ‘Answer！' The gendarme； who is a good fellow； nudges my elbow； and says to me in a low voice； ‘e； answer！'
I don't know how to explain； I have no education； I am a poor man； that is where they wrong me； because they do not see this。
I have not stolen； I picked up from the ground things that were lying there。 You say； Jean Valjean； Jean Mathieu！
I don't know those persons； they are villagers。
I worked for M。 Baloup； Boulevard de l'Hopital； my name is Champmathieu。
You are very clever to tell me where I was born； I don't know myself：
it's not everybody who has a house in which to e into the world； that would be too convenient。 I think that my father and mother were people who strolled along the highways； I know nothing different。
When I was a child； they called me young fellow； now they call me old fellow； those are my baptismal names； take that as you like。
I have been in Auvergne； I have been at Faverolles。
Pardi。
Well！ can't a man have been in Auvergne； or at Faverolles； without having been in the galleys？ I tell you that I have not stolen； and that I am Father Champmathieu； I have been with M。 Baloup； I have had a settled residence。 You worry me with your nonsense； there！
Why is everybody pursuing me so furiously？〃
The district…attorney had remained standing； he addressed the President：
〃Monsieur le President； in view of the confused but exceedingly clever denials of the prisoner； who would like to pass himself off as an idiot； but who will not succeed in so doing； we shall attend to that；we demand that it shall please you and that it shall please the court to summon once more into this place the convicts Brevet； Cochepaille； and Chenildieu； and Police…Inspector Javert； and question them for the last time as to the identity of the prisoner with the convict Jean Valjean。〃
〃I would remind the district…attorney；〃 said the President； 〃that Police…Inspector Javert； recalled by his duties to the capital of a neighboring arrondissement； left the court…room and the town as soon as he had made his deposition； we have accorded him permission； with the consent of the district…attorney and of the counsel for the prisoner。〃
〃That is true； Mr。 President；〃 responded the district…attorney。 〃In the absence of sieur Javert； I think it my duty to remind the gentlemen of the jury of what he said here a few hours ago。 Javert is an estimable man； who does honor by his rigorous and strict probity to inferior but important functions。
These are the terms of his deposition：
‘I do not even stand in need of circumstantial proofs and moral presumptions to give the lie to the prisoner's denial。 I recognize him perfectly。
The name of this man is not Champmathieu； he is an ex…convict named Jean Valjean； and is very vicious and much to be feared。
It is only with extreme regret that he was released at the expiration of his term。
He underwent nineteen years of penal servitude for theft。
He made five or six attempts to escape。 Besides the theft from Little Gervais； and from the Pierron orchard； I suspect him of a theft mitted in the house of His Grace the late Bishop of D I often saw him at the time when I was adjutant of the galley…guard at the prison in Toulon。
I repeat that I recognize him perfectly。'〃
This extremely precise statement appeared to produce a vivid impression on the public and on the jury。
The district…attorney concluded by insisting； that in default of Javert； the three witnesses Brevet； Chenildieu； and Cochepaille should be heard once more and solemnly interrogated。
The President transmitted the order to an usher； and； a moment later； the door of the witnesses' room opened。
The usher； acpanied by a gendarme ready to lend him armed assistance； introduced the convict Brevet。
The audience was in suspense； and all breasts heaved as though they had contained but one soul。
The ex…convict Brevet wore the black and gray waistcoat of the central prisons。
Brevet was a person sixty years of age； who ha