The TrialThe country will remember this celebrated trial for a long time tocome. Interest in the accused reached fever pitch; this was because his crime was astonishing and yet not atrocious. Even if ithad been, the young man was so handsome! His great destiny abruptly cut short heightened the pity felt for him. Will he be condemned? the women would ask the men of their acquaintanceand one could see them grow pale as they awaited the reply.

　　SAINTE-BEUVEAt length the day dawned so dreaded by Madame de Renal andMathilde.

　　The strange appearance of the town increased their terror, and did notleave even Fouque's stout heart unmoved. The whole Province hadswarmed into Besancon to witness the trial of this romantic case.

　　For some days past there had not been a bed to be had in the inns. ThePresident of the Assize Court was assailed with requests for cards of admission; all the ladies of the town wished to be present at the trial;Julien's portrait was hawked through the streets, etc., etc.

　　Mathilde was keeping in reserve for this supreme moment a letterwritten throughout in the hand of the Lord Bishop of ——. This Prelate,who controlled the Church in France and appointed Bishops, deigned toask for the acquittal of Julien. On the eve of the trial, Mathilde took thisletter to the all-powerful Vicar-General.

　　At the close of the interview, as she was leaving the room in a flood oftears: 'I answer for the verdict of the jury,' M. de Frilair told her, emerging at length from his diplomatic reserve, and almost showing signs ofemotion himself. 'Among the twelve persons charged with the duty offinding whether your protege's crime is proven, and especially whetherthere was premeditation, I number six friends devoted to my welfare, and I have given them to understand that it rested with them to raise meto the episcopate. Baron de Valenod, whom I have made Mayor of Verrieres, has entire control over two of his subordinates, MM. de Moirod andde Cholin. To tell the truth, chance has given us, for dealing with this affair, two jurors who are extremely disaffected; but, although Ultra-Liberals, they loyally obey my orders on great occasions, and I have sent wordasking them to vote with M. Valenod. I learn that a sixth juror of the industrial class, an immensely rich and garrulous Liberal, is secretly hoping for a contract from the Ministry of War, and no doubt he would notwish to vex me. I have let him know that M. Valenod has my last word.'

　　'And who is this M. Valenod?' said Mathilde, anxiously.

　　'If you knew him, you would have no doubt of our success. He is abold speaker, impudent, coarse, a man made to be the leader of fools.

　　1814 raised him from penury, and I am going to make him a Prefect. Heis capable of thrashing the other jurors if they refuse to vote as hewishes.'

　　Mathilde was somewhat reassured.

　　There was another discussion in store for her that evening. In ordernot to prolong a painful scene, the outcome of which appeared to himcertain, Julien was determined not to open his mouth.

　　'My counsel will speak, that is quite sufficient,' he said to Mathilde. 'Asit is, I shall be all too long exposed as a spectacle to my enemies. Theseprovincials are shocked by the rapid advancement which I owe to you,and, believe me, there is not one of them that does not wish for my conviction, except that he will cry like a fool when I am led to the scaffold.'

　　'They wish to see you humiliated, it is only too true,' replied Mathilde,'but I do not believe that they are cruel. My presence in Besancon and thespectacle of my grief have interested all the women; your handsome facewill do the rest. If you say but one word before your judges, the wholecourt will be on your side,' etc., etc.

　　The following morning at nine o'clock, when Julien came down fromhis prison to enter the great hall of the Law Courts, it was with the utmost difficulty that the gendarmes succeeded in clearing a passagethrough the immense crowd that packed the courtyard. Julien had sleptwell, he was quite calm, and felt no other sentiment than one of philosophical piety towards this crowd of envious persons who, withoutcruelty, were ready to applaud his sentence of death. He was quite surprised when, having been detained for more than a quarter of an houramong the crowd, he was obliged to admit that his presence was inspiring a tender pity in the assembly. He did not hear a single unpleasant remark. 'These provincials are less evil-minded than I supposed,' hesaid to himself.

　　On entering the court, he was struck by the elegance of the architecture. It was pure gothic, with a number of charming little pillars carvedin stone with the most perfect finish. He imagined himself in England.

　　But presently his whole attention was absorbed in twelve or fifteenpretty women who, seated opposite the dock, filled the three galleriesabove the bench and the jurybox. On turning round towards the publicseats, he saw that the circular gallery which overhung the well of thecourt was filled with women; most of them were young and seemed tohim extremely pretty; their eyes were bright and full of interest. In therest of the court, the crowd was enormous; people were struggling at thedoors, and the sentries were unable to preserve silence.

　　When all the eyes that were looking for Julien became aware of hispresence, on seeing him take his place on the slightly raised bench reserved for the prisoner, he was greeted with a murmur of astonishmentand tender interest.

　　One would have said that morning that he was not yet twenty; he wasdressed quite simply, but with a perfect grace; his hair and brow werecharming; Mathilde had insisted on presiding in person over his toilet.

　　His pallor was intense. As soon as he had taken his seat on the bench, heheard people say on all sides: 'Lord, how young he is! … ' 'But he is aboy.' 'He is far better looking than his portrait.'

　　'Prisoner,' said the gendarme seated on his right, 'do you see those sixladies who are on that balcony?' The gendarme pointed to a little gallerywhich jutted out above the amphitheatre in which the jury was placed.

　　'That is the Prefect's lady,' the gendarme continued; 'next to her, Madamela Marquise de M —— ; that one loves you dearly. I heard her speak tothe examining magistrate. Next to her is Madame Derville.'

　　'Madame Derville,' exclaimed Julien, and a vivid blush suffused hisbrow. 'When she leaves the court,' he thought, 'she will write to Madamede Renal.' He knew nothing of Madame de Renal's arrival at Besancon.

　　The witnesses were quickly heard. At the first words of the speech forthe prosecution made by the counsel for the prosecution, two of theladies seated on the little balcony burst into tears. 'Madame Derville isnot so easily moved,' thought Julien. He noticed, however, that she wasextremely flushed.

　　 The counsel for the prosecution was labouring an emotional point inbad French about the barbarity of the crime that had been committed;Julien noticed that Madame Derville's neighbours showed signs ofstrong disapproval. Several of the jury, evidently friends of th............