CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

The Trial

At last the day of the trial came. Fouqué was shocked; the whole province had come to Besançon to see the romantic trial.

"We will win this trial," Vicar-general de Frilair said to Mathilde. "I can count on half of the jury to vote how I wish. Mr Valenod owes everything to me, and I told the others to vote with him."

"What kind of man is Mr Valenod?" Mathilde asked.

"He was born to be a leader of fools. He will fight the others until they agree."

Julien did not want to speak at the trial. "These people from the provinces want to see me killed."

"My sacrifices have inspired them," Mathilde said. "One word from you and the public will support you."

When he entered the courtroom, Julien saw many women in the audience. One was Mrs Derville. Oh no! He thought. She'll tell Mrs de Rênal.

The prosecutor talked for a long time. Julien looked to the jury and saw Mr Valenod staring at him. He'll be happy to see me killed, Julien thought.

Julien had decided not to speak, but at the end he changed his mind. "I am not asking you for mercy," he said. "I tried to murder a great woman. I deserve to die for that."

"But that is not my only crime. To you I am a rebellious peasant. You want to punish me because I tried to make myself better. I was educated, and I joined society. For that I will be punished, because none of you are like me. You are all rich men, and you were never poor."

Julien talked like this for twenty minutes. All the women were weeping, even Mrs Derville.

It was not until two o'clock in the morning that the jury made their decision. Mr Valenod walked in slowly and read the decision: Julien was guilty. The sentence was death.

What a victory for Mr Valenod, thought Julien. He has won, and now I'll never see Mrs de Rênal again.

(end of section)