M. Bertillon.—“It refers to my deposition of 1894 in the Dreyfus case.”
M. Clemenceau.—“What conclusion does the witness draw from it?”
M. Bertillon.—“I recognize that I was wrong Saturday in allowing myself to be dragged upon this ground. But I will add one word to settle the question,—namely, that the point to which I called attention is still missing. But I am fully determined, from this on, to take shelter behind the court’s decree forbidding any mention of the Dreyfus case.”
M. Labori.—“And I am determined, as counsel, to demand that the decree of the court shall be observed completely, or not at all. I affirm that this is an exact copy of the document of which M. Bertillon made use in 1894. In vain will he affirm the contrary.”
M. Clemenceau.—“Was it from his consultation of the situation yesterday that he got the idea of sheltering himself behind the court’s decree? M. Bertillon has seen neither the minister of war or the prefect of police. He tells us that he has consulted the situation. We ask how this situation led him to refuse to speak today of the things of which he spoke day before yesterday.”
M. Bertillon.—“The counsel will understand that, in my personal situation, after having been concerned in the serious matter of 1894, I feel from time to time internal ebullitions,—that my situation is painful and tormenting.”
M. Clemenceau.—“The witness tells us that his situation is tormenting. He means that he is an official, and that, as such, there are things that embarrass him.”
M. Bertillon.—“That is not it at all.”
M. Clemenceau.—“Then I ask an explanation of the word ‘tormenting.’ This word is now in the trial, and I hold to it. It must be explained, for it is a very pregnant matter.”
The Judge.—“Let us say that the witness will not speak.”