Вбивство на поле для гольфу

           “Withoutdoubt,withoutdoubt—theyarealwaysinnocent,ourprisoners!Byyourownmouthyouarecondemned.Youcanoffernodefence,noalibi—onlyamereassertionwhichwouldnotdeceiveababe!—thatyouarenotguilty.Youkilledyourfather,Renauld—cruelandcowardlymurder—forthesakeofmoneywhichyoubelievedwouldcometoyouathisdeath.Yourmotherwasanaccessoryafterthefact.Doubtless,inviewofthefactthatsheactedasamother,thecourtswillextendanindulgencetoherthattheywillnotaccordtoyou.Andrightlyso!Yourcrimewasahorribleone—tobeheldinabhorrencebygodsandmen!”M.Hautetwasenjoyinghimself,workinguphisperiod,steepedinthesolemnityofthemoment,andhisownroleasrepresentativeofjustice.“Youkilled—andyoumustpaytheconsequencesofyouraction.Ispeaktoyou,notasaman,butasJustice,eternalJustice,which—”

           M.Hautetwasinterrupted—tohisintenseannoyance.Thedoorwaspushedopen.

           “M.lejuge,M.lejuge,”stammeredtheattendant,“thereisaladywhosays—whosays—”

           “Whosayswhat?”criedthejustlyincensedmagistrate.“Thisishighlyirregular.Iforbidit—Iabsolutelyforbidit.”

           Butaslenderfigurepushedthestammeringgendarmeaside.Dressedallinblack,withalongveilthathidherface,sheadvancedintotheroom.

           Myheartgaveasickeningthrob.Shehadcomethen!Allmyeffortswereinvain.YetIcouldnotbutadmirethecouragethathadledhertotakethisstepsounfalteringly.

           Sheraisedherveil—andIgasped