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for wearing the skin； as it were； of five innocent men。 To discover
them； even to get upon their traces； we need as much power as the
government itself； as many agents and as many eyes as there are
townships in a radius of fifty miles。〃
〃The thing is impossible；〃 said Bordin。 〃There's no use thinking of
it。 Since society invented law it has never found a way to give an
innocent prisoner an equal chance against a magistrate who is pre…
disposed against him。 Law is not bilateral。 The defence； without spies
or police； cannot call social power to the rescue of its innocent
clients。 Innocence has nothing on her side but reason； and reasoning
which may strike a judge is often powerless on the narrow minds of
jurymen。 The whole department is against you。 The eight jurors who
have signed the indictment are each and all purchasers of national
domain。 Among the trial jurors we are certain to have some who have
either sold or bought the same property。 In short； we can get nothing
but a Malin jury。 You must therefore set up a consistent defence； hold
fast to it； and perish in your innocence。 You will certainly be
condemned。 But there's a court of appeal； we will go there and try to
remain there as long as possible。 If in the mean time we can collect
proofs in your favor you must apply for pardon。 That's the anatomy of
the business； and my advice。 If we triumph （for everything is possible
in law） it will be a miracle； but your advocate Monsieur de Grandville
is the most likely man among all I know to produce that miracle； and
I'll do my best to help him。〃
〃The senator has the key to the mystery；〃 said Monsieur de Grandville；
〃for a man knows his enemies and why they are so。 Here we find him
leaving Paris at the close of the winter； coming to Gondreville alone；
shutting himself up with his notary； and delivering himself over； as
one might say； to five men who seize him。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Bordin； 〃his conduct seems inexplicable。 But how
could we； in the face of a hostile community； become accusers when we
ourselves are the accused？ We should need the help and good…will of
the government and a thousand times more proof than is wanted in
ordinary circumstances。 I am convinced there was premeditation； and
subtle premeditation； on the part of our mysterious adversaries； who
must have known the situation of Michu and the Messieurs de Simeuse
towards Malin。 Not to utter one word； not to steal one thing！
remarkable prudence！ I see something very different from ordinary
evil…doers behind those masks。 But what would be the use of saying so
to the sort of jurors we shall have to face？〃
This insight into hidden matters which gives such power to certain
lawyers and certain magistrates astonished and confounded Laurence；
her heart was wrung by that inexorable logic。
〃Out of every hundred criminal cases；〃 continued Bordin； 〃there are
not ten where the law really lays bare the truth to its full extent；
and there is perhaps a good third in which the truth is never brought
to light at all。 Yours is one of those cases which are inexplicable to
all parties； to accused and accusers； to the law and to the public。 As
for the Emperor； he has other fish to fry than to consider the case of
these gentlemen； supposing even that they had not conspired against
him。 But who the devil /is/ Malin's enemy？ and what has really been
done with him？〃
Bordin and Monsieur de Grandville looked at each other； they seemed in
doubt as to Laurence's veracity。 This evident suspicion was the most
cutting of all the many pangs the girl had suffered in the affair； and
she turned upon the lawyers a look which effectually put an end to
their distrust。
The next day the indictment was handed over to the defence； and the
lawyers were then enabled to communicate with the prisoners。 Bordin
informed the family that the six accused men were 〃well supported；〃
using a professional term。
〃Monsieur de Grandville will defend Michu；〃 said Bordin。
〃Michu！〃 exclaimed the Marquis de Chargeboeuf； amazed at the change。
〃He is the pivot of the affairthe danger lies there；〃 replied the
old lawyer。
〃If he is more in danger than the others； I think that is just；〃 cried
Laurence。
〃We see certain chances；〃 said Monsieur de Grandville； 〃and we shall
study them carefully。 If we are able to save these gentlemen it will
be because Monsieur d'Hauteserre ordered Michu to repair one of the
stone posts in the covered way； and also because a wolf has been seen
in the forest； in a criminal court everything depends on discussions；
and discussions often turn on trivial matters which then become of
immense importance。〃
Laurence sank into that inward dejection which humiliates the soul of
all thoughtful and energetic persons when the uselessness of thought
and action is made manifest to them。 It was no longer a matter of
overthrowing a usurper； or of coming to the help of devoted friends；
fanatical sympathies wrapped in a shroud of mystery。 She now saw all
social forces full…armed against her cousins and herself。 There was no
taking a prison by assault with her own hands； no deliverance of
prisoners from the midst of a hostile population and beneath the eyes
of a watchful police。 So； when the young lawyer； alarmed at the stupor
of the generous and noble girl； which the natural expression of her
face made still more noticeable； endeavored to revive her courage； she
turned to him and said： 〃I must be silent； I suffer；I wait。〃
The accent； gesture； and look with which the words were said made this
answer one of those sublime things which only need a wider stage to
make them famous。
A few moments later old d'Hauteserre was saying to the Marquis de
Chargeboeuf： 〃What efforts I have made for my two unfortunate sons！ I
have already laid by in the Funds enough to give them eight thousand
francs a year。 If they had only been willing to serve in the army they
would have reached the higher grades by this time； and could now have
married to advantage。 Instead of that； all my plans are scattered to
the winds！〃
〃How can you；〃 said his wife； 〃think of their interests when it is a
question of their honor and their lives？〃
〃Monsieur d'Hauteserre thinks of everything；〃 said the marquis。
CHAPTER XVI
MARTHE INVEIGLED
While the masters of Cinq…Cygne were waiting at Troyes for the opening
of the trial before the Criminal court and vainly soliciting
permission to see the prisoners； an event of the utmost importance had
taken place at the chateau。
Marthe returned to Cinq…Cygne as soon as she had given her testimony
before the indicting jury。 This testimony was so insignificant that it
was not thought necessary to summon her before the Criminal court。
Like all persons of extreme sensibility； the poor woman sat silent in
the salon； where she kept company with Mademoiselle Goujet； in a
pitiable state of stupefaction。 To her； as to the abbe； and indeed to
all others who did not know how the accused had been employed on that
day； their innocence seemed doubtful。 There were moments when Marthe
believed that Michu and his masters and Laurence had executed
vengeance on the senator。 The unhappy woman now kn