Ferré. "The Royalists were preparing for the partition of France. At last, in the night of the 18th March, they believed themselves ready, and attempted to disarm the National Guard, and the wholesale arrest of Republicans"——
Merlin. Come, sit down. I allow your advocate to speak.
The advocate of Ferré demanded that his client might be allowed to read the last sentences of his declaration, and Merlin gave way.
Ferré. "A member of the Commune, I am in the hands of its victors. They want my head; they may take it. I will never save my life by cowardice. Free I have lived, so I will die. I add but one word. Fortune is capricious; I confide to the future the care of my memory and my revenge."
Merlin. The memory of an assassin!
Gaveau. It is to the bagnio that such manifestoes should be sent.
Merlin. All this does not answer to the acts for which you are here.
Ferré. This means that I accept the fate that is in store for me.
During this duel between Merlin and Ferré the hall had remained silent. Ferocious hisses burst forth when Ferré concluded. The president was obliged to raise the sitting, and the judges were going out when a barrister demanded that notice should be taken for the defence that the president had called Ferré "assassin."
The hisses of the audience answered. The advocate indignantly turned to the tribunal, to the seats of the press, to the public. Cries of rage arose from all corners of the hall, drowning his voice for several minutes. Merlin, who was radiant, at last obtained silence, and answered cavalierly, "I acknowledge that I made use of the expression of which the advocate spoke. The court takes notice of your conclusions."