"What is that you are saying?" interposed the Advocate's wife; "that Mr. Almer should marry? If I were a man--how I wish I were!--nothing, nothing in the world would tempt me to marry. I would live a life without chain or shackle."
"So, so, my fair dame," thought Pierre Lamont, who had overheard this remark. "Bright as you appear, there is a skeleton in your cupboard. Chains and shackles! But you are sufficiently self-willed to throw these off." And he said aloud: "Can you ascertain for me if Fritz the Fool has returned from Geneva?"
"Certainly," replied Adelaide, and Dionetta being in the room, she sent her out to inquire.
"If he has returned," said Pierre Lamont, "the trial is over. I miss the fool's nightly report of the proceedings, which he has given me regularly since the commencement of the inquiry."
"If the trial is over," said Christian Almer, "the Advocate should be here."
"You need not expect him so soon," said Pierre Lamont; "after such exertion as he has gone through, an hour's solitude is imperative. Besides, Fritz can travel faster than our slow-going horses; he is as fleet as a hare."
"I have the highest respect for him. This particular fool is the wisest fool in my acquaintance."
Dionetta entered the room with Fritz at her heels.
"Well, Fritz," called out Pierre Lamont, "is the trial over?"
"Yes, Master Lamont, and we're ready for the next."
"The verdict, Fritz, the verdict?" eagerly inquired Pierre Lamont, and everybody in the room listened anxiously for the reply.
"If I were a bandy-legged man," said Fritz, ignoring the question, "I would hire some scoundrel to do a deed, so that you might be on one side and my lord the Advocate on the other. Then we should witness a fine battle of brains."
"Come, Fritz--the verdict!" repeated Pierre Lamont impatiently.
"On second thoughts," said Fritz quietly, "you would be no match for the greatest lawyer living. I would not have you on my side. It is as well that your pleading days are ended."
"No fooling, Fritz. The verdict; Acquitted?"
"What else? Washed white as driven snow."
"I knew it would be so," cried the old lawyer triumphantly. "How was it received?"
"The town is mad about it. The women are furious, and the men thunderstruck. You should have heard the speech! Such a thing was never known. Men's minds were twisted inside out, and the jury were convinced against their convictions. Why, Master Lamont, even Gautran himself for a few minutes believed himself to be innocent!"