she stands accused(她是被告)-第59章
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What had brought about Lacoste's fatal illness was the wine Meilhan
had made him drink at Rigeupeu fair。
With the rise of suspicion against her and her accomplice； Mme
Lacoste put up a brave front。 She wrote to the Procureur du Roi；
demanding an exhumation； with the belief； no doubt； that time would have
effaced the poison。 At the same time she sent the bailiff Labadie to
Riguepeu； to find out the names of those who were traducing her； and to
say that she intended to prosecute her calumniators with the utmost rigour
of the law。 This； said the accusation； was nothing but a move to frighten
the witnesses against her into silence。 Instead of making good her threats
the Widow Lacoste disappeared。
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
On the arrest of Meilhan search of his lodgings resulted in the finding
of the note on Castera for 1772 francs； and of a sum of 800 francs in gold
and silver。 But of the deed creating the annuity of 400 francs there was
no trace。
Meilhan denied everything。 In respect of the wine he was said to
have given Lacoste he said he had passed the whole of the 16th of May in
the company of a friend called Mothe； and that Mothe could therefore
prove Meilhan had never had a drink with Lacoste。 Mothe； however；
declared he had left Meilhan that day at three o'clock in the afternoon； and
it was just at this time that Meilhan had taken Lacoste into the auberge
where he lived to give him the poisoned drink。 It was between three and
four that Lacoste first showed signs of being ill。
Asked to explain the note for 1772 francs； Meilhan said that； about
two months after Lacoste's death； the widow complained of not having
any ready money。 She had the Castera note； and he offered to discount it
for her。 This was a palpable lie； said the accusation。 It was only a few
days after Lacoste's death that Meilhan spoke to the Mayor about the
Castera note。 Meilhan's statement was full of discrepancies。 He told
Castera that he held the note against 2000 francs previously lent to the
widow。 He now said that he had discounted the note on sight。 But the
fact was that since Meilhan had come to live in Riguepeu he had been
without resources。 He had stripped himself in order to establish his son
in a pharmacy at Vic…Fezensac。 His profession of schoolmaster scarcely
brought him in enough for living expenses。 How； then； could he possibly
be in a position to lend Mme Lacoste 2000 francs？ And how had he
managed to collect the 800 odd francs that were found in his lodgings？
The real explanation lay in the story he had twice given to the Mayor； M。
Sabazan： he was in possession of the Castera note through the generosity
of his accomplice。
Meilhan was in still greater difficulty to explain the document which
had settled on him an annuity of 400 francs； and which had been seen in
his hands。 Denial was useless； since he had asked the Mayor to make a
draft for him； and since he had shown that functionary the deed signed by
Mme Lacoste。 Here； word for word； is the explanation given by the
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
rubicund Joseph：
‘‘My son；'' he said； ‘‘kept asking me to contribute to the upkeep of one
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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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
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
