Free eBooks at Planet eBook.com 1But the bell rang. The jury deliberated for exactly an
hour, neither more nor less. A profound silence reigned in
the court as soon as the public had taken their seats. I re-
member how the jurymen walked into the court. At last! I
won’t repeat the questions in order, and, indeed, I have for-
gotten them. I remember only the answer to the President’s
first and chief question: ‘Did the prisoner commit the mur-
der for the sake of robbery and with premeditation?’ (I don’t
remember the exact words.) There was a complete hush. The
foreman of the jury, the youngest of the clerks, pronounced,
in a clear, loud voice, amidst the deathlike stillness of the
court:
‘Yes, guilty!’
And the same answer was repeated to every question:
‘Yes, guilty!’ and without the slightest extenuating comment.
This no one had expected; almost everyone had reckoned
upon a recommendation to mercy, at least. The death-like
silence in the court was not broken — all seemed petrified:
those who desired his conviction as well as those who had
been eager for his acquittal. But that was only for the first
instant, and it was followed by a fearful hubbub. Many of
the men in the audience were pleased. Some were rubbing
their hands with no attempt to conceal their joy. Those who
disagreed with the verdict seemed crushed, shrugged their
shoulders, whispered, but still seemed unable to realise
this. But how shall I describe the state the ladies were in? I
thought they would create a riot. At first they could scarce-
ly believe their ears. Then suddenly the whole court rang
with exclamations: ‘What’s the meaning of it? What next?’