“This is strange language in the mouth of a
Leadsman’s child!”
Christine appeared at a loss, for a moment, to comprehend
his meaning; but, passing a hand across her fair brow
she continued:
“I think I understand what you would say, mein
Herr,” she said; “the world believes us
to be without feeling and without hope. We are
what we seem in the eyes of others because the law
makes it so, but we are in our hearts like all around
us, Herr Chatelain—with this difference,
that, feeling our abasement among men, we lean more
closely and more affectionately on God. You may
condemn us to do your offices and to bear your dislike,
but you cannot rob us of our trust in the justice
of heaven. In that, at least, we are the equals
of the proudest baron in the cantons!”
“The examination had better rest here,”
said the prior, advancing with glistening eyes to
interpose between the maiden and her interrogator.
“Thou knowest, Herr Bourrit, that we have, other
prisoners.”
The chatelain, who felt his own practised obduracy
of feeling strangely giving way before the innocent
and guileless faith of Christine, was not unwilling
himself to change the direction of the inquiries.
The family of Balthazar was directed to retire, and
the attendants were commanded to bring forward Pippo
and Conrad.
And
when thou thus
Shalt stand impleaded at the high tribunal
Of hoodwink’d Justice, who shall
tell thy audit!
Cotton.
The buffoon and the pilgrim, though of a general appearance
likely to excite distrust, presented themselves with
the confidence and composure of innocence. Their
examination was short, for the account they gave of
their movements was clear and connected. Circumstances
that were known to the monks, too, greatly aided in
producing a conviction that they could have had no
agency in the murder. They had left the valley
below some hours before the arrival of Jacques Colis,
and they reached the convent, weary and foot-sore,
as was usual with all who ascended that long and toilsome
path, shortly after the commencement of the storm.
Measures had been taken by the local authorities,
during the time lost in waiting the arrival of the
bailiff and the chatelain, to ascertain all the minute
facts which it was supposed would be useful in ferreting
out the truth; and the results of these inquiries
had also been favorable to these itinerants, whose
habits of vagabondism might otherwise very justly have
brought them within the pale of suspicion.
The flippant Pippo was the principal speaker in the
short investigation, and his answers were given with
a ready frankness, that, under the circumstances,
did him and his companion infinite service. The
buffoon, though accustomed to deception and frauds,
had sufficient mother-wit to comprehend the critical
position in which he was now placed, and that it was
wiser to be sincere, than to attempt effecting his
ends by any of the usual means of prevarication.
He answered the judge, therefore, with a simplicity
which his ordinary pursuits would not have given reason
to expect, and apparently with some touches of feeling
that did credit to his heart.
