not been taken at my request, caused me considerable astonishment; for
among the witnesses who made them I saw some of the most honest folk in
the country. However, they had no weight except in the eyes of Monsieur
E----, the magistrate, who was really interested in discovering the
truth. He interposed, and asked me how it was that M. Jean de Mauprat
had not been summoned to confront these witnesses, seeing that he
had taken the trouble to put in his affidavit to prove an alibi. This
objection was received with a murmur of indignation. There were not
a few people, however, who by no means looked upon John Mauprat as a
saint; but they took no interest in myself, and had merely come to the
trial as to a play.

The enthusiasm of the bigots reached a climax when the Trappist suddenly
stood up in the crowd. Throwing back his cowl in a theatrical manner,
he boldly approached the bar, declaring that he was a miserable sinner
worthy of all scorn, but on this occasion, when it was the duty of every
one to strive for truth, he considered it incumbent on him to set
an example of simple candour by voluntarily offering himself for any
examination which might shed light on the judges' minds. These
words were greeted with applause. The Trappist was admitted to the
witness-box, and confronted with the witnesses, who all declared,
without any hesitation, that the monk they had seen wore the same habit
as this man, and that there was a family likeness, a sort of distant
resemblance between the two; but that it was not the same person--on
this point they had not the least doubt.

The result of this incident was a fresh triumph for the Trappist. No one
seemed to notice that, as the witnesses had displayed so much candour,
it was difficult to believe that they had not really seen another
Trappist. At this moment I remembered that, at the time of the abbe's