The Judge.—“You have no right to do so.”
M. Demange.—“But the interest of the defence requires me to develop my motion.”
“Gentlemen, when I read that for the first time, I did not know that I was reading a phrase of which we should hear an echo in this court-room.
M. Brisset.—“There are other interests at stake in this trial than those of the defence and of the prosecution. Moreover, the judge has the file of documents. He will tell these gentlemen of what they consist.”
M. Demange.—“True, the presiding judge knows these documents, and I regret that all the members of the council are not familiar with them. I desire to show that there is no matter of fact here to furnish a sufficient ground for closed doors.”
The Judge.—“There is a decree of the court of appeals in 1883 which declares that closed doors may be ordered without consultation of the accused, if higher interests require it. Therefore I do not wish you to touch upon the substance of the issue.”
M. Demange.—“Yes or no, is my motion accepted?”
M. Brisset.—“File your motion without reading it.”
M. Demange.—“I ask for a record of the filing of my motion, and of the refusal to allow me to read it.”
M. Brisset.—“But you have been doing that for the last half-hour.”