The President addressed him:--
"Have you heard, prisoner?
What have you to say?"
He replied:--
"I say, `Famous!'"
An uproar broke out among the audience, and was communicated to the jury; it was evident that the man was lost.
"Ushers," said the President, "enforce silence!
I am going to sum up the arguments."
At that moment there was a movement just beside the President; a voice was heard crying:--
"Brevet!
Chenildieu!
Cochepaille! look here!"
All who heard that voice were chilled, so lamentable and terrible was it; all eyes were turned to the point whence it had proceeded. A man, placed among the privileged spectators who were seated behind the court, had just risen, had pushed open the half-door which separated the tribunal from the audience, and was standing in the middle of the hall; the President, the district-attorney, M. Bamatabois, twenty persons, recognized him, and exclaimed in concert:--
"M. Madeleine!"
BOOK SEVENTH.--THE CHAMPMATHIEU AFFAIR
CHAPTER XI
CHAMPMATHIEU MORE AND MORE ASTONISHED
It was he, in fact.