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proofs for the prosecution were understood by the jurors； to whom the
president explained that the empty bottles were found in the place
where the senator was imprisoned。
Each prisoner was questioned as to the cavern or cellar beneath the
ruins of the old monastery。 It was proved by all witnesses for the
prosecution； and also for the defence； that the existence of this
hiding…place discovered by Michu was known only to him and his wife；
and to Laurence and the four gentlemen。 We may judge of the effect in
the courtroom when the public prosecutor made known the fact that this
cavern； known only to the accused and to their two witnesses； was the
place where the senator had been imprisoned。
Marthe was summoned。 Her appearance caused much excitement among the
spectators and keen anxiety to the prisoners。 Monsieur de Grandville
rose to protest against the testimony of a wife against her husband。
The public prosecutor replied that Marthe by her own confession was an
accomplice in the outrage； that she had neither sworn nor testified；
and was to be heard solely in the interests of truth。
〃We need only submit her preliminary examination to the jury；〃
remarked the president； who now ordered the clerk of the court to read
the said testimony aloud。
〃Do you now confirm your own statement？〃 said the president；
addressing Marthe。
Michu looked at his wife； and Marthe； who saw her fatal error； fainted
away and fell to the floor。 It may be truly said that a thunderbolt
had fallen upon the prisoners and their counsel。
〃I never wrote to my wife from prison； and I know none of the persons
employed there；〃 said Michu。
Bordin passed to him the fragments of the letter Marthe had received。
Michu gave but one glance at it。 〃My writing has been imitated；〃 he
said。
〃Denial is your last resource；〃 said the public prosecutor。
The senator was introduced into the courtroom with all the ceremonies
due to his position。 His entrance was like a stage scene。 Malin （now
called Comte de Gondreville； without regard to the feelings of the
late owners of the property） was requested by the president to look at
the prisoners； and did so with great attention and for a long time。 He
stated that the clothing of his abductors was exactly like that worn
by the four gentlemen； but he declared that the trouble of his mind
had been such that he could not be positive that the accused were
really the guilty parties。
〃More than that；〃 he said； 〃it is my conviction that these four
gentlemen had nothing to do with it。 The hands that blindfolded me in
the forest were coarse and rough。 I should rather suppose；〃 he added；
looking at Michu； 〃that my old enemy took charge of that duty； but I
beg the gentlemen of the jury not to give too much weight to this
remark。 My suspicions are very slight； and I feel no certainty
whateverfor this reason。 The two men who seized me put me on
horseback behind the man who blindfolded me； and whose hair was red
like Michu's。 However singular you may consider the observation I am
about to make； it is necessary to make it because it is the ground of
an opinion favorable to the accusedwho； I hope； will not feel
offended by it。 Fastened to the man's back I would naturally have been
affected by his odoryet I did not perceive that which is peculiar to
Michu。 As to the person who brought me provisions on three several
occasions； I am certain it was Marthe； the wife of Michu。 I recognized
her the first time she came by a ring she always wore； which she had
forgotten to remove。 The Court and jury will please allow for the
contradictions which appear in the facts I have stated； which I myself
am wholly unable to reconcile。〃
A murmur of approval followed this testimony。 Bordin asked permission
of the Court to address a few questions to the witness。
〃Does the senator think that his abduction was due to other causes
than the interests respecting property which the prosecution
attributes to the prisoners？〃
〃I do；〃 replied the senator； 〃but I am wholly ignorant of what the
real motives were； for during a captivity of twenty days I saw and
heard no one。〃
〃Do you think；〃 said the public prosecutor； 〃that your chateau at
Gondreville contains information； title…deeds； or other papers of
value which would induce a search on the part of the Messieurs de
Simeuse？〃
〃I do not think so；〃 replied Malin； 〃I believe those gentlemen to be
incapable of attempting to get possession of such papers by violence。
They had only to ask me for them to obtain them。〃
〃You burned certain papers in the park； did you not？〃 said Monsieur de
Gondreville； abruptly。
Malin looked at Grevin。 After exchanging a rapid glance with the
notary； which Bordin intercepted； he replied that he had not burned
any papers。 The public prosecutor having asked him to describe the
ambush to which he had so nearly fallen a victim two years earlier；
the senator replied that he had seen Michu watching him from the fork
of a tree。 This answer； which agreed with Grevin's testimony； produced
a great impression。
The four gentlemen remained impassible during the examination of their
enemy； who seemed determined to overwhelm them with generosity。
Laurence suffered horrible agony。 From time to time the Marquis de
Chargeboeuf held her by the arm； fearing she might dart forward to the
rescue。 The Comte de Gondreville retired from the courtroom and as he
did so he bowed to the four gentlemen； who did not return the
salutation。 This trifling matter made the jury indignant。
〃They are lost now；〃 whispered Bordin to the Marquis de Chargeboeuf。
〃Alas； yes！ and always through the nobility of their sentiments；〃
replied the marquis。
〃My task is now only too easy； gentlemen；〃 said the prosecutor； rising
to address the jury。
He explained the use of the cement by the necessity of securing an
iron frame on which to fasten a padlock which held the iron bar with
which the gate of the cavern was closed； a description of which was
given in the /proces…verbal/ made that morning by Pigoult。 He put the
falsehoods of the accused into the strongest light； and pulverized the
arguments of the defence with the new evidence so miraculously
obtained。 In 1806 France was still too near the Supreme Being of 1793
to talk about divine justice； he therefore spared the jury all
reference to the intervention of heaven； but he said that earthly
justice would be on the watch for the mysterious accomplices who had
set the senator at liberty； and he sat down； confidently awaiting the
verdict。
The jury believed there was a mystery； but they were all persuaded
that it came from the prisoners； who were probably concealing some
matter of a private interest of great importance to them。
Monsieur de Grandville； to whom a plot or machination of some kind was
quite evident； rose； but he seemed discouraged；less； however； by the
new evidence than by the manifest opinion of the jury。 He surpassed；
if anything； his speech of the previous evening； his argument was more
compact and logical； but he felt his fervor repelled by the coldness
of the jury； he spoke ineffectually； and he knew it；a chilling
situation for an advocate。