es from his bead.

All at once, in the middle of a fine period, he interrupted himself, and
his glance, ordinarily so gentle and even stupid, became menacing.

"Gentlemen," he exclaimed (this time in French, for it was not in
his copy book), "Satan is so mixed up in this affair, that here he is
present at our debates, and making sport of their majesty. Behold!"

So saying, he pointed to the little goat, who, on seeing Charmolue
gesticulating, had, in point of fact, thought it appropriate to do the
same, and had seated himself on his haunches, reproducing to the best
of his ability, with his forepaws and his bearded head the pathetic
pantomine of the king's procurator in the ecclesiastical court. This
was, if the reader remembers, one of his prettiest accomplishments. This
incident, this last proof, produced a great effect. The goat's
hoofs were tied, and the king's procurator resumed the thread of his
eloquence.

It was very long, but the peroration was admirable. Here is the
concluding phrase; let the reader add the hoarse voice and the
breathless gestures of Master Charmolue,

"_Ideo, domni, coram stryga demonstrata, crimine patente, intentione
criminis existente, in nornine sanctoe ecclesioe Nostroe-Domince
Parisiensis quoe est in saisina habendi omnimodam altam et bassam
justitiam in illa hac intemerata Civitatis insula, tenore proesentium
declaremus nos requirere, primo, aliquamdam pecuniariam indemnitatem;
secundo, amendationem honorabilem ante portalium maximum
Nostroe-Dominoe, ecclesioe cathedralis; tertio, sententiani in virtute
cujus ista styrga cum sua capella, seu in trivio vulgariter dicto_ la
Greve, _seu in insula exeunte in fluvio Secanoe, juxta pointam juardini
regalis, executatoe sint_!"*

* The substance of this exordium is contained in the president's
sentence.

He put on his cap again and seated himself.

"Eheu!" sighed the broken-hearted Gringoire, "_bassa latinitas_--bastard
latin!"

Another man in a black gown rose near the accused; he was her
lawyer.--The judges, who were fasting, began to grumble.

"Advocate, be brief," said the president.

"Monsieur the President," replied the advocate, "since the defendant
has confessed the crime, I have only one word to say to these gentlemen.
Here is a text from the Salic law; 'If a witch hath eaten a man, and if
she be convicted of it, she shall pay a fine of eight thousand deniers,
which amount to two hundred sous of gold.' May it pl