M. Labori.--“They have put forward the plea of the nation’s defence.
But that is a jest.”
The Attorney-General.--“The defence of the nation a jest?”
M. Labori.--“Ah! really, that is not worthy of you, Mr.
Attorney-General. I do not accept that. No, no! I will suffer no one,
not even you, to suspect my patriotism. No! I repeat, gentlemen of the
jury, if there is any question here that concerns the national defence,
we shall not approach it. If closed doors are necessary, let the doors
be closed; we are willing. But we will not permit them to say, in
placing us at the mercy of all calumnies and all insults, that we are
paid men, when, in fact, in a trial like this, we are fighting a battle
in which we risk our life and honor. We will allow no one to say that
we are triflers, and that contempt is the most that we deserve. It will
be seen later whether we deserve it.”
The Judge.--“I have a letter from Mme. de Boulancy in which she says:
‘I am kept in bed by an affection of the heart, which gives me much
pain just now. I enclose the certificate of my doctor, M. de Basse, 4,
Rue de Berlin. I beg to refer you to my evidence before M. Bertulus.’”
M. Labori.--“We must hear Mme. de Boulancy. She cannot lapse into a
state of perpetual silence simply because she testified before M.
Bertulus. From the standpoint of authenticity Major Esterhazy’s letters
belong to this discussion. Major Esterhazy, realizing how terrible a
blow the letter in which he styled himself a Uhlan would be to him, in
spite of his numerous protectors, has denied its genuineness; now, it
is genuine, it is, I declare it! And, if Mme. de Boulancy were here,
we would prove it. In the presence of all these obstacles, I have the
right, in the name of my client, who, I am sure, will approve me” ...