Page 459 - les-miserables

CHAPTER X

THE SYSTEM OF DENIALS

The moment for closing the debate had arrived. The Presi-
dent had the accused stand up, and addressed to him the
customary question, ‘Have you anything to add to your de-
fence?’
The man did not appear to understand, as he stood there,
twisting in his hands a terrible cap which he had.
The President repeated the question.
This time the man heard it. He seemed to understand.
He made a motion like a man who is just waking up, cast his
eyes about him, stared at the audience, the gendarmes, his
counsel, the jury, the court, laid his monstrous fist on the
rim of woodwork in front of his bench, took another look,
and all at once, fixing his glance upon the district-attorney,
he began to speak. It was like an eruption. It seemed, from
the manner in which the words escaped from his mouth,—
incoherent, impetuous, pell-mell, tumbling over each
other,— as though they were all pressing forward to issue
forth at once. He said:—
‘This is what I have to say. That I have been a wheel-
wright in Paris, and that it was with Monsieur Baloup. It is

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