itself was presided over by Monsieur de Rocouz, a judge
filled with the prejudice of his class, but a man honest at heart. The
witnesses had been called. I was there, of course, as were all who had,
in any way, been in touch with the mysteries of the Glandier. Monsieur
Stangerson--looking many years older and almost unrecognisable--Larsan,
Arthur Rance, with his face ruddy as ever, Daddy Jacques, Daddy Mathieu,
who was brought into court handcuffed between two gendarmes, Madame
Mathieu, in tears, the two Berniers, the two nurses, the steward, all
the domestics of the chateau, the employe of the Paris Post Office, the
railway employe from Epinay, some friends of Monsieur and Mademoiselle
Stangerson, and all Monsieur Darzac's witnesses. I was lucky enough to
be called early in the trial, so that I was then able to watch and be
present at almost the whole of the proceedings.

The court was so crowded that many lawyers were compelled to find seats
on the steps. Behind the bench of justices were representatives from
other benches. Monsieur Robert Darzac stood in the prisoner's dock
between policemen, tall, handsome, and calm. A murmur of admiration
rather than of compassion greeted his appearance. He leaned forward
towards his counsel, Maitre Henri Robert, who, assisted by his chief
secretary, Maitre Andre Hesse, was busily turning over the folios of his
brief.

Many expected that Monsieur Stangerson, after giving his evidence, would
have gone over to the prisoner and shaken hands with him; but he left
the court without another word. It was remarked that the jurors appeared
to be deeply interested in a rapid conversation which the manager of the
"Epoque" was having with Maitre Henri Robert. The manager, later, sat
down in the front row of the public seats. Some were surprised that he
was not asked to remain with the other witnesses in the room reserved
for them.

The reading of the indictment was got through, as it always is, without
any incident. I shall not here report the long examination to which
Monsieur Darzac was subjected. He answered all the questions quickly
and easily. His silence as to the important matters of which we know was
dead against him. It would seem as if this reticence would be fatal
for him. He resented the President's reprimands. He was told that his
silence might mean death.

"Very well," he said; "I will submit to it; but I am innocent."

With that splendid ability which has made his fame, Ma