Facing Lionel's interrogation, Presiding Judge Bernard's face turned pale, and the judicial robe on his back was already soaked with cold sweat.
He had never encountered such a defendant, nor had he ever been in such an untenable predicament.
A verdict meant a political storm and ruin; no verdict or a lenient one meant the judge's authority would be swept away, and how could he continue to thrive in the legal world afterward?
Presiding Judge Bernard attempted a final effort:
"Mr. Sorel, this court needs to ensure that your 'confession' is based on a complete understanding of the nature of the charges.
Are you aware that some of your statements might be interpreted as... uh... active participation and critical thinking regarding public affairs?
These are rights granted to citizens by the Republic. Are you willing to further elaborate on your views, perhaps there are some... misunderstandings;
or do these statements have room for a more reasonable interpretation?"
He was almost begging Lionel to defend himself, even if only for show.
Lionel's voice was calm, almost cruel:
"There are no misunderstandings, Mr. Presiding Judge. My views are clear, and my actions are clear.
I made statements opposing colonial wars, which I believe are wrong and shameful. If this constitutes a crime, then I submit to the law.
I ask the court to rule according to the law."
Whispers erupted in the courtroom once more; this time, the undertones of mockery and absurdity were even more apparent.
Reporters wrote furiously, documenting this rare spectacle in history:
The judge and prosecutor desperately tried to exonerate the "confessed" defendant, while the defendant was determined to embrace "guilt."
Prosecutor Alexandre Dupont pulled out a handkerchief, wiping the sweat constantly beading on his forehead and neck.
His expression shifted from severe to anxious, even despairing.
He looked at Presiding Judge Bernard, his eyes conveying a signal of helplessness.
Presiding Judge Louis-Auguste Bernard also felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, the shirt under his judicial robe clinging coldly to his back.
He pounded the gavel again, announcing:
"Given... given the complexity of the case, the defendant's on-the-record confession requires... requires further deliberation by this court.
Court is now adjourned for thirty minutes!"
As the gavel fell, the judge practically sprang from his seat and quickly departed.
Prosecutor Alexandre Dupont also hastily gathered his documents, fleeing from the public eye.
Leaving Lionel Sorel standing alone in the defendant's dock, facing a room full of whispers.
His expression remained calm, as if this judicial farce spiraling out of control had nothing to do with him.
————————
Deep within the Palace of Justice, in an office isolated from the noisy courtroom, the atmosphere was thick with a deathly silence.
Presiding Judge Louis-Auguste Bernard took off his heavy judicial robe and irritably loosened his shirt collar.
Prosecutor Alexandre Dupont was pale, pacing restlessly in the office.
There were two other people in the room, Duke Giscard de Montmorency and Count Patrice de Gramont.
Both of them also looked displeased.
Presiding Judge Bernard looked at Duke Montmorency, his voice trembling:
"We have no choice but to convict him, Duke, as you've seen!
He confessed himself! In court, in plain sight of everyone! If we don't convict him now, how will we explain it to the public!
What will become of the dignity of French law? What will become of my dignity as a judge?"
Duke Montmorency scoffed:
"Explain? To whom? Bernard, are you still thinking about your dignity? Look outside! Listen to the voices of the people!
That cunning fellow's 'confession' performance on the steps has already directed all accusations at us! At the so-called 'behind-the-scenes conspiracy'!
The slogans they're shouting outside have changed from 'freedom of speech is not a crime' to 'expose the conspirators'!
To convict him now? That would be telling all of Paris, all of France, that we put him on trial just to bring down Jules Ferry!
This will confirm all his accusations!"
At this point, he suddenly stood up, his cane thudding heavily on the floor:
"Jules Ferry, that fool, is already a sinking wreck of a ship! We can't go down with him!
Now the public's anger is not just aimed at his cabinet, but even more at 'the people behind it'!
Once Lionel Sorel is convicted for his statements, even if it's just one day in prison or a one-franc fine, we could all be exposed to the public eye!
Think about it, what does Lionel's villa in Villeneuve look like now? Do you think they wouldn't dare to do the same to us?
At that time, as soon as this kid points the finger at someone, those ignorant mobs will definitely... definitely..."
He didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Finally, Duke Montmorency sneered:
"At that time, do you think resigning from public office will solve everything? Too naive!
Your Honor, do you still think your dignity is important?"
Count Gramont's voice was low, like muffled thunder rolling across the ceiling:
"The military won't be happy to see this outcome either.
The colonial defeat has already disgraced the generals, and now a writer's statements are causing such a huge scandal!
To bring down Jules Ferry, that series of failures before was already enough, so—
What we need now is to quell the incident, not ignite a powder keg!"
Prosecutor Alexandre Dupont couldn't help but retort, his tone both aggrieved and angry:
"Then why did you push for this prosecution in the first place? Now that things are tricky, you blame us instead?
You said Jules Ferry needed a lesson, what else could we do? Should we have declared him innocent in court? What would be the point of the prosecution then? And where would the authority of our prosecutorial system stand?"
Duke Montmorency interrupted him unceremoniously:
"That's your problem! You failed to control the situation! You gave him the opportunity to put on that show outside the Palace of Justice and in court!
You should have had the bailiffs arrest him and bring him straight to trial!"
Presiding Judge Bernard's pent-up resentment also exploded:
"Arrest him directly? And then let the enraged public raze the Palace of Justice to the ground, is that it?
You underestimated his resolve! You treated justice as a tool!
Now that failure is imminent, are you going to blame the tools for not being good enough?"
The office was instantly filled with mutual accusations, utterly chaotic.
Duke Montmorency accused the judicial officers of incompetence, while Bernard and Dupont complained that the big figures had misjudged the situation and dragged them into the mud.
Everyone's faces were etched with anxiety and anger; the air felt as if it would ignite.
Just as the argument escalated, a thought flashed through Presiding Judge Bernard's mind, a thought capable of solving his own predicament.
While continuing to verbally spar with the two nobles, he thought to himself:
"Perhaps... perhaps there's another possibility..."
The other three, however, noticed nothing unusual about him.
——————————
Meanwhile, in another waiting room provided for the defendant, the atmosphere was relatively calm.
Lawyer Jules Fayol paced back and forth, his face filled with shock:
"I've been practicing for thirty years and have never seen a trial like this!
The prosecutor and judge are desperately trying to exonerate a confessed defendant, while the defendant adamantly demands a conviction! This is insane!
Mr. Sorel, what exactly are you doing?"
Lionel picked up the water on the table and took a sip:
"Mr. Fayol, when a case isn't based on law from the start, but on political calculations, it's inherently unstable, like nitroglycerin.
I merely moved the fuse they lit a little closer to their feet."
Lawyer Fayol stopped pacing and looked at him seriously:
"Man, you're playing with fire!
Aren't you afraid they'll really go with the flow and convict you?
Even if it's just to maintain the court's outward dignity? 'Undermining military discipline,' 'inciting insubordination,' 'insulting the nation'...
These charges can be light or heavy; if they insist on a conviction, it would be at least several months in prison!"
Lionel put down his water glass, his gaze passing through the small window of the waiting room towards the gloomy inner courtyard of the Palace of Justice.
"If they actually do that, then for me, what I lose might be a period of freedom.
But for those who pushed me into the defendant's dock, they will certainly lose more... They will weigh their options.
In the face of politics, personal grievances must always give way to the interests of the whole, especially their own interests."
Lawyer Fayol was stunned and said nothing more, just took a deep breath and patted Lionel's shoulder:
"Time is almost up, let's go."
——————————
The sound of the gavel rang out again.
In the Second Division of the Misdemeanor Court, after the brief adjournment, the atmosphere grew increasingly stagnant.
Everyone's eyes were fixed between the judge's bench and the defendant's dock, awaiting the final outcome of this bizarre trial.
Presiding Judge Louis-Auguste Bernard's face was taut, his gaze sweeping across the entire court, finally settling on Lionel.
He confirmed again in a solemn tone:
"Defendant Lionel Sorel, before this court's adjournment, you clearly expressed your admission of all charges brought against you by the prosecution.
At this moment, do you still have any objections or need to add any statements?"
Lionel stood straight, his voice clear:
"No objection, Mr. Presiding Judge. I admit the charges, I plead guilty."
These few simple words once again caused a ripple in the courtroom.
Reporters in the public gallery perked up their ears, the associate judges exchanged complex glances, and Prosecutor Alexandre Dupont lowered his head, as if everything happening had nothing to do with him.
In any case, he had already prosecuted Lionel Sorel; the one who truly should have a headache was Bernard.
Presiding Judge Bernard took a deep breath, picked up the gavel, but did not immediately strike it down.
He stood up, looking down at Lionel, deliberately raising his voice, and began to announce the verdict:
"Based on the conduct of defendant Lionel Sorel during the trial, and his attitude towards the judicial process, after deliberation by this court, it is hereby ruled as follows—
Lionel Sorel, found guilty of 'contempt of court'! Sentenced to a fine of five hundred francs!"
As the verdict was delivered, a moment of deathly silence fell upon the courtroom.
Immediately after, immense astonishment caused the whispers in the courtroom to erupt into a clamor!
"What?"
"Contempt of court?"
"Was that charge in the indictment?"
"What's going on? Weren't there only those three charges?"
Even Lionel himself was stunned, looking in astonishment at Presiding Judge Bernard of the Second Division of the Misdemeanor Court, who sat high above.
Alexandre Dupont's expression was even more spectacular, as if he had seen a ghost.
(End of chapter)