"What were your motives?" he inquired.
"We hoped to free ourselves from a government imposed upon us by foreigners; to free ourselves from the insolence of the n.o.bility, and to retain the lands that were justly ours."
"Enough! You were one of the leaders of the revolt?"
"One of the leaders--yes."
"Who were the others?"
A faint smile flitted over the lips of the young farmer, as he replied:
"The others were Monsieur Lacheneur, his son Jean, and the Marquis de Sairmeuse."
The duke bounded from his gilded arm-chair.
"Wretch!" he exclaimed, "rascal! vile scoundrel!"
He caught up a heavy inkstand that stood upon the table before him: and one would have supposed that he was about to hurl it at the prisoner"s head.
Chanlouineau stood perfectly unmoved in the midst of the a.s.sembly, which was excited to the highest pitch by his startling declaration.
"You questioned me," he resumed, "and I replied. You may gag me if my responses do not please you. If there were witnesses _for_ me as there are against me, I could prove the truth of my words. As it is, all the prisoners here will tell you that I am speaking the truth. Is it not so, you others?"
With the exception of Baron d"Escorval, there was not one prisoner who was capable of understanding the real bearing of these audacious allegations; but all, nevertheless, nodded their a.s.sent.
"The Marquis de Sairmeuse was so truly our leader," exclaimed the daring peasant, "that he was wounded by a sabre-thrust while fighting by my side."
The face of the duke was more purple than that of a man struck with apoplexy; and his fury almost deprived him of the power of speech.
"You lie, scoundrel! you lie!" he gasped.
"Send for the marquis," said Chanlouineau, tranquilly, "and see whether or not he is wounded."
A refusal on the part of the duke could not fail to arouse suspicion.
But what could he do? Martial had concealed his wound the day before; it was now impossible to confess that he had been wounded.
Fortunately for the duke, one of the judges relieved him of his embarra.s.sment.
"I hope, Monsieur, that you will not give this arrogant rebel the satisfaction he desires. The commission opposes his demand."
Chanlouineau laughed loudly.
"Very naturally," he exclaimed. "To-morrow my head will be off, and you think nothing will then remain to prove what I say. I have another proof, fortunately--material and indestructible proof--which it is beyond your power to destroy, and which will speak when my body is six feet under ground."
"What is the proof?" demanded another judge, upon whom the duke looked askance.
The prisoner shook his head.
"I will give it to you when you offer me my life in exchange for it,"
he replied. "It is now in the hands of a trusty person, who knows its value. It will go to the King if necessary. We would like to understand the part which the Marquis de Sairmeuse has played in this affair--whether he was truly with us, or whether he was only an instigating agent."
A tribunal regardful of the immutable rules of justice, or even of its own honor, would, by virtue of its discretionary powers, have instantly demanded the presence of the Marquis de Sairmeuse.
But the military commission considered such a course quite beneath its dignity.
These men arrayed in gorgeous uniforms were not judges charged with the vindication of a cruel law, but still a law--they were the instruments, commissioned by the conquerors, to strike the vanquished in the name of that savage code which may be summed up in two words: "_vae victis_."
The president, the n.o.ble Duc de Sairmeuse, would not have consented to summon Martial on any consideration. Nor did his a.s.sociate judges wish him to do so.
Had Chanlouineau foreseen this? Probably. Yet, why had he ventured so hazardous a blow?
The tribunal, after a short deliberation, decided that it would not admit this testimony which had so excited the audience, and stupefied Maurice and Abbe Midon.
The examination was continued, therefore, with increased bitterness.
"Instead of designating imaginary leaders," resumed the duke, "you would do well to name the real instigator of this revolt--not Lacheneur, but an individual seated upon the other end of the bench, the elder d"Escorval----"
"Monsieur le Baron d"Escorval was entirely ignorant of the conspiracy, I swear it by all that I hold most sacred----"
"Hold your tongue!" interrupted the counsel for the prosecution.
"Instead of wearying the patience of the commission by such ridiculous stories, try to merit its indulgence."
Chanlouineau"s glance and gesture expressed such disdain that the man who interrupted him was abashed.
"I wish no indulgence," he said. "I have played, I have lost; here is my head. But if you were not more cruel than wild beasts you would take pity on the poor wretches who surround me. I see at least ten among them who were not our accomplices, and who certainly did not take up arms.
Even the others did not know what they were doing. No, they did not!"
Having spoken, he resumed his seat, proud, indifferent, and apparently oblivious to the murmur which ran through the audience, the soldiers of the guard and even to the platform, at the sound of his vibrant voice.
The despair of the poor peasant women had been reawakened, and their sobs and moans filled the immense hall.
The retired officers had grown even more pale and gloomy; and tears streamed down the wrinkled cheeks of several.
"That one is a man!" they were thinking.
The abbe leaned over and whispered in the ear of Maurice:
"Evidently Chanlouineau has some plan. He intends to save your father.
How, I cannot understand."
The judges were conversing in low tones with considerable animation.
A difficulty had presented itself.
The prisoners, ignorant of the charges which would be brought against them, and not expecting instant trial, had not thought of procuring a defender.
And this circ.u.mstance, bitter mockery! frightened this iniquitous tribunal, which did not fear to trample beneath its feet the most sacred rules of justice.
The judges had decided; their verdict was, as it were, rendered in advance, and yet they wished to hear a voice raised in defence of those who were already doomed.