"Remove your hats."
The prisoners obeyed, Peppino with a confident smile, Beppo with a sullen scowl.
"Prisoners at the bar," said the Juge d' Instruction severely, "you are charged with the offense of picking pockets upon the public street. What have you to say?"
This formal and rather menacing beginning was both a surprise and a disappointment to Peppino. He glanced inquiringly at Monte-Cristo, but could read nothing in his pale, handsome face; then with a dark frown he made answer to the Juge, in a harsh, defiant tone:
"I am not guilty!"
The magistrate glanced at Beppo who in his turn repeated his comrade's words.
Here the Deputy Procureur arose and said to the Juge d' Instruction, in a full, clear voice:
"May it please you, honored Juge, as the representative of the Procureur de la République I desire to state that it is not my intention to push the charge against the prisoners at the bar. For this course I have a good and sufficient reason. I, therefore, in my official capacity demand that the persons calling themselves Peppino and Beppo be discharged."
This demand was another surprise to Peppino, but he instantly divined that Monte-Cristo counted for a great deal in it and gazed at him with a look of gratitude. Beppo was absolutely astounded, for he could not understand the sudden, favorable turn in the situation.
The Juge d' Instruction, in pursuance of the form prescribed by law, said to the Deputy: