she stands accused(她是被告)-第53节
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of his boys who is in the seminary of Vic…Fezensac。 I consistently
refused to do so； because I wanted to save what little I might against the
time when I should be unable to work any longer。 Six months ago my
son wrote to the cure； begging him to speak to me。 The cure； not wishing
to do so； sent on the letter to the Mayor； who communicated with me。 I
replied that I did not wish to do anything； adding that I intended investing
my savings in a life annuity。 At the same time I begged M。 Sabazan to
make me a draft in the name of Mme Lacoste。 She knew nothing about it。
M。 Sabazan sent me on the draft。 It seemed to me well drawn up。 I
rewrote it； and showed it to M。 Sabazan。 At the foot of the deed I put the
words ‘Veuve Lacoste；' but I had been at pains to disguise my handwriting。
I did all this with the intention of making my son believe； when my
infirmities obliged me to retire to his household； that my income came
from a life annuity some one had given me； and to hide from him where I
had put my capital I wanted to persuade M。 Sabazan that the deed actually
existed； so that he could bear witness to the fact to my son。'' Here； said
the accusation； Meilhan was trying to make out that it was on the occasion
of a letter from his son that he had spoken to the Mayor of the annuity。
The cure of Riguepeu； however； while admitting that he had received
such a letter from Meilhan's son； declared that this was long before the
death of Henri Lacoste。 The Mayor also said that he had spoken to
Meilhan of his son's letter well before the time when the accused
mentioned the annuity to him and asked for a draft of the assignment。
The accusation ridiculed Meilhan's explanation； dubbing it just another
of the schoolmaster's lies。 It brought forward a contradictory explanation
given by Meilhan to one Thener； a surgeon； whom he knew to be in
frequent contact with the son whom the document was intended to deceive。
Meilhan informed Thener that he had fabricated the deed； and had shown
it round； in order to inspire such confidence in him as would secure him
refuge when he had to give up schoolmastering。
These contradictory and unbelievable explanations were the fruit of
Meilhan's efforts to cover the fact that the annuity was the price paid him
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by the Widow Lacoste for his part in the murder of her husband。 It was
to be remembered that M。 Sabazan； whose testimony was impeccable； had
seen Meilhan come from the house of Mme Lacoste； and that Meilhan had
jingled money； saying he had just drawn the first payment of his annuity。
The accusation； in sum； concentrated on the suspicious relationship
between Meilhan and the Widow Lacoste。 It was a long document； but
something lacking in weight of proofproof of the actual murder； that is；
if not of circumstance。
％ V
The process in a French criminal court wasand still issomewhat
long…winded。 The Procureur du Roi had to go over the accusation in
detail； making the most of Mme Lacoste's intimacy with the ill…reputed old
fellow。 That parishioner； far from being made indignant by the
animadversions of M。 Cassagnol； listened to the recital of his misdeeds
with a faint smile。 He was perhaps a little astonished at some of the
points made against him； but； it is said； contented himself with a gesture of
denial to the jury； and listened generally as if with pleasure at hearing
himself so well spoken of。
He was the first of the accused to be questioned。
It was brought out that he had been a soldier under the Republic； and
then for a time had studied pharmacy。 He had been a corn…merchant in a
small way； and then had started schoolmaster。
Endeavour was made to get him to admit guilty knowledge of the
death of the Lescure girl。 He had never even heard of an abortion。 The
girl had a stomach…ache。 This line failing； he was interrogated on the
matter of being chased from his lodgings by the landlord…father； it would
seem； of the aforementioned girl。 （It may be noted that Meilhan lived on
in the auberge after her death。） Meilhan had an innocent explanation of
the incident。 It was all a mistake on the part of Lescure。 And he hadn't
been chased out of the auberge。 He had simply gone out with his coat
slung about his shoulders。 Mme Lacoste went with him to patch the
matter up。
He had not given Lacoste a drink； hadn't even spoken with him； at the
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Riguepeu fair； but had passed the day with M。 Mothe。 Cournet had told
him of Lacoste's having a headache； but had said nothing of vomitings。
He had not seen Lacoste during the latter's illness； because Lacoste was
seeing nobody。
This business of the annuity had got rather entangled； but he would
explain。 He had lodged 1772 francs with Mme Lacoste； and she had
given him a bill on Castera。 Whether he had given the money before or
after getting the bill he could not be sure。 He thought afterwards。 He
had forgotten the circumstances while in prison。
Meilhan stuck pretty firmly to his story that it was to deceive his son
that he had fabricated the deed of annuity。 He couldn't help it if the story
sounded thin。 It was the fact。
How had he contrived to save； as he said； 3000 francs？ His yearly
income during his six years at Riguepeu had been only 500 francs。 The
court had reason to be surprised。
‘‘Ah！ You're surprised！'' exclaimed Meilhan； rather put out。 But at
Breuzeville； where he was before Riguepeu； he had bed and board free。
In Riguepeu he had nothing off the spit for days on end。 He spent only
130 francs a year； he said； giving details。 And then he did a little trade in
corn。
He had destroyed the annuity deed only because it was worthless。 As
for what he had said to the Mayor about drawing his first payment of the
pension； he had done it because he was a bit conscience…stricken over
fabricating the deed。 He had been braggingthat was all。
The President； having already chidden Meilhan for being prolix in his
answers； now scolded him for anticipating the questions。 But the fact
was that Meilhan was not to be pinned down。
The first questions put to Mme Lacoste were with regard to her
marriage and her relations with her husband。 She admitted； incidentally；
having begun to receive a young man some six weeks after her husband's
death； but she had not known him before marriage。 Meilhan had carried
no letters between them。 She had married Lacoste of her own free will。
Lacoste had not asked any attentions from her that were not ordinarily
sought by a husband； and her care of him had been spontaneous。 It was
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true he was jealous； but he had not formally forbidden her pleasures。 She
had renounced them； knowing he was easily upset。 It was true that she
had seldom gone out； but she had never wanted to。 Lacoste was no more
avaricious than most； and it was untrue that he had denied her any
necessaries。
Taken to the events of the fair day； Tuesday； the 16th of May； Mme
Lacoste maintained that her husband； on his return； complained only of a
headache。 He had gone to bed early； but he usually did。 That night he
slept in the same alcove as herself； but next night they separated。 In spite
of the contrary evidence of witnesses； of which the President reminded her；
Mme Lacoste firmly ma
