"Yes, yes," cried the leudes enjoying by anticipation the spectacle of human suffering; "the double trial!"
"I am not afraid of the trial!" exclaimed Justin in a firm voice. "God will bear witness to my innocence--"
"And I am quite certain that I did not steal the dish," said Peter trembling, "and yet I am afraid of the trial!"
"Your companion, my dear son in Christ, sets you the example of a pious reliance upon divine justice, knowing the Eternal only condemns the guilty."
"Alas, good father!" said Peter to the clerk, "think of it, if the trial should turn out against me!"
"My son, it will be a proof that you did steal the dish."
"But no--no--I did not commit the theft."
"In that case, my son, you need have no fear of the judgment of God. His justice is infallible."
"Speak not thus, my dear son. This law is holy, it is the Salic Law, the law of the Salian Franks, our conquerors. It is placed under protection by our Lord Jesus Christ. I shall read to you the preamble of the law in the name of which you are to be subjected to trial:
"'The illustrious nation of the Franks, founded by God, strong in war, wise in council, of noble stature, of singular whiteness and beauty, bold, agile and mighty in battle, has recently been converted to the Catholic faith, which it practices pure and free from the defilement of any heresy; the said illustrious nation has prepared and dictated the Salic Law through the medium of the oldest members who then governed the nation. The _gast_ of Wiso, the _gast_ of Bodo, the _gast_ of Salo, the _gast_ of Wido, who inhabit the places called Salo-Heim, Bodo-Heim, Wiso-Heim and Wido-Heim met during three _mahls_, carefully discussed and adopted this law.
"'Long live he who loves the Franks! May Christ uphold their empire! May Heaven enlighten their chiefs and fill them with grace! May He protect the army, may He fortify the faith, may He grant peace and happiness to those who govern them under the auspices of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.'"
"Clerk, we have had words enough!" put in the count. "The accused shall be put to the trial of the cold water--let his right hand be bound to his left foot, and let him be thrown into the tank head foremost. If he floats the judgment of God condemns him; he will then be pronounced guilty and shall to-morrow suffer punishment. If he sinks to the bottom, the judgment of God will have absolved him."