“I beg your pardon,” said M. de Chandore, “we have to try to get the case handed over to another magistrate.”
M. Folgat shook his head.
“Unfortunately, that is not to be dreamt of. A magistrate acting in his official capacity cannot be rejected like a simple juryman.”
“However”—
“Article 542 of the Criminal Code is positive on the subject.”
“Ah! What does it say?” asked Dionysia.
“It says, in substance, madam, that a demand for a change of magistrate, on the score of well-founded suspicion, can only be entertained by a court of appeals, because the magistrate, within his legitimate sphere, is a court in himself. I do not know if I express myself clearly?”
“Oh, very clearly!” said M. de Chandore. “Only, since Jacques wishes it”—
“To be sure; but M. de Boiscoran does not know”—
“I beg your pardon. He knows that the magistrate is his mortal enemy.”