PRESIDENT. You don’t trouble yourself about it? Well, we know your heart is not easy to move.
MME. THOMAS. If I told you that I was led to do what I did by pity, you wouldn’t believe me.
PRESIDENT. Probably not. But you can try to make us believe. The defendant has the right to say whatever he thinks fit—always under the control of the court, of course.
MME. THOMAS. It’s not worth while.
PRESIDENT. Yes, yes; go on. The jury is listening to you.
MME. THOMAS [on a sign from her counsel] A girl came to me one day. She was a servant. Her master had had her. I refused to do what she asked me: she went away and threw herself into the water. Another, whom I wouldn’t help, was tried here for infanticide. So, since then, when others have come to me, I have agreed; I have prevented more than one suicide and more than one crime.
PRESIDENT. So it was from pity, out of charity that you acted. The prosecution will reply that you never forgot to exact heavy payment.
MME. THOMAS. And you, aren’t you paid for condemning others?
PRESIDENT. Those whom you condemned to death and executed yourself, were innocent.