Cinq Mars — Volume 2

This etext was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
By ALFRED DE VIGNY
La torture interroge, et la douleur repond. RAYNOURARD, Les Templiers.
The continuous interest of this half-trial, its preparations, its interruptions, all had held the minds of the people in such attention that no private conversations had taken place. Some irrepressible cries had been uttered, but simultaneously, so that no man could accuse his neighbor. But when the people were left to themselves, there was an explosion of clamorous sentences.
There was at this period enough of primitive simplicity among the lower classes for them to be persuaded by the mysterious tales of the political agents who were deluding them; so that a large portion of the throng in the hall of trial, not venturing to change their judgment, though upon the manifest evidence just given them, awaited in painful suspense the return of the judges, interchanging with an air of mystery and inane importance the usual remarks prompted by imbecility on such occasions.
One does not know what to think, Monsieur?
Truly, Madame, most extraordinary things have happened.
We live in strange times!
I suspected this; but, i' faith, it is not wise to say what one thinks.
We shall see what we shall see, and so on—the unmeaning chatter of the crowd, which merely serves to show that it is at the command of the first who chooses to sway it. Stronger words were heard from the group in black.
What! shall we let them do as they please, in this manner? What! dare to burn our letter to the King!
If the King knew it!