“I should like to know”--
“Nothing can be more simple,” replied the advocate. “Cocoleu’s idiocy
is, perhaps the most serious difficulty in the way of the prosecution,
and the most powerful argument for the defence. What can M. Galpin say,
if M. de Boiscoran charges him with basing a capital charge upon the
incoherent words of a creature void of intelligence, and, consequently,
irresponsible.”
“Ah! permit me,” said Dr. Seignebos.
But M. de Chandore heard every syllable.
“Permit yourself, doctor,” he said. “This argument of Cocoleu’s
imbecility is one which you have pleaded from the beginning, and which
appeared to you, you said, so conclusive, that there was no need of
looking for any other.”