M. Thévenet.--“I say that this no should be spoken with a loud voice.
But they are silent. What are we to believe? What are we to think? In
what country are we living? Where are we? Is there a magistrate among
those who listen to me, is there any of my _confrères_, any person
whatsoever, anyone among you, gentlemen of the jury, who can understand
that we should be left in uncertainty on this important point whether
Dreyfus, yes or no, was acquainted with the documents that proved his
guilt, and, if not, why they were not shown to him, why they were not
shown to his counsel, that _confrère_ whom we all respect, bound to
professional secrecy as well as the generals, and who is certainly as
patriotic as anybody. That is what I have to say. And I finish with one
word: I say that, for the reasons that I have indicated, perhaps at too
great length, the good faith of M. Zola is on a level with his talent,
and I consider that glorious.”
M. Thévenet was succeeded on the witness-stand by M. Salle, an aged
member of the Paris bar, who was said to have received from a member of
the council of war a confession that a secret document was communicated
to it.
_Testimony of M. Salle._
M. Labori.--“Does M. Salle know any fact of interest to the defence of
M. Zola?”
The Judge.--“That is not a question. In relation to what?”