"No, no!" said Coconnas, "do not let us misunderstand each other--as the one seen at Rene"s."
"At Rene"s; very good! On what day?"
"The only day La Mole and myself were at Rene"s."
"You admit, then, that you were at Rene"s with Monsieur de la Mole?"
"Why, did I ever deny it?"
"Clerk, write down that the accused admits having gone to Rene"s to work conjurations."
"Stop there, Monsieur le President. Moderate your enthusiasm, I beg you.
I did not say that at all."
"You deny having been at Rene"s to work conjurations?"
"I deny it. The magic took place by accident. It was unpremeditated."
"But it took place?"
"I cannot deny that something resembling a charm did take place."
"Clerk, write down that the accused admits that he obtained at Rene"s a charm against the life of the King."
"What! against the King"s life? That is an infamous lie! There was no charm obtained against the life of the King."
"You see, gentlemen!" said La Mole.
"Silence!" said the president; then turning to the clerk: "Against the life of the King," he continued. "Have you that?"
"Why, no, no!" cried Coconnas. "Besides, the figure is not that of a man, but of a woman."
"What did I tell you, gentlemen?" said La Mole.
"Monsieur de la Mole," said the president, "answer when you are questioned, but do not interrupt the examination of others."
"So you say that it is a woman?"
"Certainly I say so."
"In that case, why did it have a crown and a cloak?"
"By Heaven!" said Coconnas, "that is simple enough, because it was"--
La Mole rose and put his finger on his lips.
"That is so," said Coconnas, "what was I going to say that could possibly concern these gentlemen?"
"You persist in stating that the figure is that of a woman?"
"Yes; certainly I persist."
"And you refuse to say what woman?"
"A woman of my country," said La Mole, "whom I loved and by whom I wished to be loved in return."
"We are not asking you, Monsieur de la Mole," said the president; "keep silent, therefore, or you shall be gagged."
"Gagged!" exclaimed Coconnas; "what do you mean, monsieur of the black robe? My friend gagged? A gentleman! the idea!"
"Bring in Rene," said the Attorney-General Laguesle.
"Yes; bring in Rene," said Coconnas; "we shall see who is right here, we two or you three."
Rene entered, pale, aged, and almost unrecognizable to the two friends, bowed under the weight of the crime he was about to commit much more than because of those he had already committed.
"Maitre Rene," said the judge, "do you recognize the two accused persons here present?"
"Yes, monsieur," replied Rene, in a voice which betrayed his emotion.
"From having seen them where?"
"In several places; and especially at my house."
"How many times did they go to your house?"
"Once only."
As Rene spoke the face of Coconnas expanded; La Mole"s, on the contrary, looked as though he had a presentiment of evil.
"For what purpose were they at your house?"
Rene seemed to hesitate a moment.
"To order me to make a waxen figure," said he.
"Pardon me, Maitre Rene," said Coconnas, "you are making a slight mistake."
"Silence!" said the president; then turning to Rene, "was this figure to be that of a man or a woman?"
"A man," replied Rene.
Coconnas sprang up as if he had received an electric shock.
"A man!" he exclaimed.
"A man," repeated Rene, but in so low a tone that the president scarcely heard him.