The audience, which had been expecting some very exciting revelations, seemed to be much disappointed; and ironical laughter was heard in various directions.

P.—­(In a severe tone of voice.) This laughter is indecent and objectionable.  Sheriff, take out the persons who presume to laugh.  And once more I give notice, that, at the first disturbance, I shall order the room to be cleared.

Then, turning again to the accused, he said,—­

P.—­Go on!

A.—­I went therefore to the priest at Brechy, that evening:  unluckily there was no one at home at the parsonage when I got there.  I was ringing the third or fourth time in vain, when a little peasant-girl came by, who told me that she had just met the priest at the Marshalls’ Cross-roads.  I thought at once I would go and meet him, and went in that direction.  But I walked more than four miles without meeting him.  I thought the girl must have been mistaken, and went home again.

P.—­Is that your explanation?

A.—­Yes.

P.—­And you think it a plausible one?

A.—­I have promised to say not what is plausible, but what is true.  I may confess, however, that, precisely because the explanation is so simple, I did not venture at first to give it.  And yet if no crime had been committed, and I had said the day after, “Yesterday I went to see the priest at Brechy, and did not find him,” who would have seen any thing unnatural in my statement?

P.—­And, in order to fulfil so simple a duty, you chose a roundabout way, which is not only troublesome, but actually dangerous, right across the swamps?

A.—­I chose the shortest way.

P.—­Then, why were you so frightened upon meeting young Ribot at the
Seille Canal?

A.—­I was not frightened, but simply surprised, as one is apt to be when suddenly meeting a man where no one is expected.  And, if I was surprised, young Ribot was not less so.

P.—­You see that you hoped to meet no one?

A.—­Pardon me, I did not say so.  To expect is not the same as to hope.

P.—­Why, then did you take such pains to explain your being there?

A.—­I gave no explanations.  Young Ribot first told me, laughingly, where he was going, and then I told him that I was going to Brechy.

P.—­You told him, also, that you were going through the marshes to shoot birds, and, at the same time you showed him your gun?

A.—­That may be.  But is that any proof against me?  I think just the contrary.  If I had had such criminal intentions as the prosecution suggests, I should certainly have gone back after meeting people, knowing that I was exposed to great danger.  But I was only going to see my friend, the priest.

P.—­And for such a visit you took your gun?

A.—­My land lies in the woods and marshes, and there was not a day when I did not bag a rabbit or a waterfowl.  Everybody in the neighborhood will tell you that I never went out without a gun.