“Yes, Madame.”
“And the result?”
“The Sieur de Artigny was held guilty, Madame,” he said regretfully, glancing about as though to assure himself alone. “The three officers agreed on the verdict, although I know some of the witnesses lied.”
“You know––who?”
“My own mate for one––Georges Descartes; he swore to seeing De Artigny follow Chevet from the boats, and that was not true, for we were together all that day. I would have said so, but the court bade me be still.”
“Ay, they were not seeking such testimony. No matter what you said, Jules, De Artigny would have been condemned––it was La Barre’s orders.”
“Yes, Madame, so I thought.”
“Did the Sieur de Artigny speak?”
“A few words, Madame, until M. Cassion ordered him to remain still. Then M. de Baugis pronounced sentence––it was that he be shot tomorrow.”
“The hour?”