human
You are a woodman?
gpt
Aye, a woodman. It is well known.
human
Have you parents?
gpt
They are dead.
human
Any brothers or sisters?
gpt
None. I was the only one.
human
Friends?
gpt
No.
human
Have you wife or children?
gpt
Neither.
human
How much money have you?
gpt
Not a sou.
human
What about this murder?
gpt
What about it, then?
human
Speak in a different tone. I am here to assist you, if I see my way. You have no lawyer to defend you?
gpt
How should I get one? What lawyer works without pay, and where should I find the money to pay him?
human
Heed what I say. I do not ask you if you are innocent or guilty of the crime of which you stand charged, for that is a formula and, guilty or not guilty, you would return but one answer. Have you anything to tell me?
gpt
I can't think of anything.
human
You have led an evil life.
gpt
Not my fault. Can a man choose his own parents and his country? The life I have led I was born into; and that is to stand against me.
human
Are there any witnesses who would come forward and speak in your favour?
gpt
None that I know of.
human
Is it true that you were walking with the girl on the night she was murdered?
gpt
No man has heard me deny it,
human
Why do you shudder?
gpt
Master, you asked me just now whether I had a wife, and I told you I had none. This girl was to have been my wife. I loved her, and we were to have been married.
human
That is disputed.
gpt
Everything is disputed that would tell in my favour. The truth is of no use to a poor devil caught in a trap as I am. Have you heard any good of me, master?
human
Not any; all that I have heard is against you.
gpt
That is the way of it. Well, then, judge for yourself.
human
Can you indicate anyone who would be likely to murder the girl? You shudder again.
gpt
I cannot help it. Master, put yourself in this cell, as I am put, without light, without hope, without money, without a friend. You would need a strong nerve to stand it. You want to know if I can point out anyone who could have done the deed but me? Well, if I were free, and came face to face with him, I might. Not that I could say anything, or swear to anything for certain, for I did not see it done. No, master, I will not lie to you. Where would be the use? You are clever enough to find me out. But I had good reason to suspect, aye, to know, that the girl had other lovers, who pressed her hard, I dare say; some who were rich, while I was poor; some who were almost mad for her. She was followed by a dozen and more. She told me so herself, and used to laugh about it; but she never mentioned a name to me. You know something of women, master; they like the men to follow them--the best of them do--ladies as well as peasants. They were sent into the world to drive us to perdition. I was jealous of her, yes, I was jealous. Am I guilty because of that? How could I help being jealous when I loved her? It is in a man's blood. Well, then, what more can I say?
human
At what time did you leave the girl on the last night you saw her alive?
gpt
At ten o'clock.
human
She was alone at that hour?
gpt
Yes.
human
Did you see her again after that?
gpt
No.
human
Did you have reason to suspect that she was to meet any other man on that night?
gpt
If I had thought it, I should have stopped with her.
human
For what purpose?
gpt
To see the man she had appointed to meet.
human
And having seen him?
gpt
He would have had to answer to me. I am hot-blooded, master, and can stand up for my rights.
human
Would you have harmed the girl?
gpt
No, unless she had driven me out of my senses.
human
Were you in that state on the night of her death?
gpt
No--I knew what I was about.
human
You were heard to quarrel with her.
gpt
I don't deny it.
human
You were heard to say you would kill her.
gpt
True enough. I told her if ever I found out that she was false to me, I would kill her.
human
Had she bound herself to marry you?
gpt
She had sworn to marry me.
human
The handkerchief round her neck, when her body was discovered in the river, is proved to have been yours.
gpt
It was mine; I gave it to her. I had not much to give.
human
When you were arrested you were searched?
gpt
Yes.
human
Was anything taken from you?
gpt
My knife.
human
Had you and the girl's secret lover--supposing she had one--met on that night, you might have used your knife.
gpt
That is speaking beforehand. I can't say what might have happened.
human
Come here into the light. Let me look at your hands.
gpt
What trick are you going to play me, master?
human
No trick, replied the Advocate sternly.
gpt
Obey me, or I leave you.