she stands accused(她是被告)-第60章
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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 maintained that it was not until the Wednesday…
Thursday night that Lacoste started to vomit。 It was not until that night
that she began to attend to him。 She had given him lemonade； washed
him； and so on。
The President was saying that nobody had been allowed near him； and
that a doctor was not called； when the accused broke in with a lively
denial。 Anybody who wanted to could see him； and a doctor was called。
This was towards the last； the President pointed out。 Mme Lacoste's
advocate intervened here； saying that it was the husband who did not wish
a doctor called； for reasons of his own。 The President begged to be
allowed to hear the accused's own answers。 He pointed out that the
ministrations of the accused had effected no betterment； but that the illness
had rapidly got worse。 The delay in calling a doctor seemed to lend a
strange significance to the events。
Mme Lacoste answered in lively fashion； accenting her phrases with
the use of her hands： ‘‘But； monsieur； you do not take into account that it
was not until the night of Wednesday and the Thursday that my husband
began to vomit； and that it was two days after that hehe succumbed。''
The President said a way remained of fixing the dates and clearing up
the point。 He had a letter written by M。 Lacoste to the doctor in which he
himself explained the state of his illness。 It was pointed out to him that
the letter had been written by Mme Lacoste at her husband's dictation。
The letter was dated the 19th （Friday）。 It was directed to M。 Boubee；
doctor of medicine； in Vic…Fezensac。 Perhaps it would be better to give it
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in the original language。 It is something frank in detail：
Depuis quelque temps j'avais perdu l'appetit et m'endormais de suite
quand j'etais assis。 Mercredi il me vint un secours de nature par un
vomissement extraordinaire。 Ces vomissements m'ont dure pendant un
jour et une nuit； je ne rendais que de la bile。 La nuit passee； je n'en ai pas
rendu； dans ce moment； j'en rends encore。 Vous sentez combien ces
efforts reiteres m'ont fatigue； ces grands efforts m'ont fait partir de la bile
par en bas； je vous demanderai； monsieur； si vous ne trouveriez pas a
propos que je prisse une medecine d'huile de ricin ou autre； celle que vous
jugerez a propos。 Je vous demanderai aussi si je pourrais prendre
quelques bains。 ＇signe＇
LACOSTE PHILIBERT
Je rends beaucoup de vents
