human
Stop! came her low cry.
gpt
He--he was my lover.
human
That is better!
gpt
I don't suppose you will contradict the lady, said Hauteville, turning to Kittredge.
human
I take your silence as consent, and, after all, the lady's confession is sufficient. You were her lover. And the evidence shows that you committed a crime based on passionate jealousy and hatred of a rival. You knew that Martinez was to dine with your mistress in a private room; you arranged to be at the same restaurant, at the same hour, and by a cunning and intricate plan, you succeeded in killing the man you hated. We have found the weapon of this murder, and it belongs to you; we have found a letter written by you full of violent threats against the murdered man; we have found footprints made by the assassin, and they absolutely fit your boots; in short, we have the fact of the murder, the motive for the murder, and the evidence that you committed the murder. What have you to say for yourself?
gpt
The fact of the murder you have, of course; the evidence against me you seem to have, although it is false evidence; but----
human
How do you mean false evidence? Do you deny threatening Martinez with violence?
gpt
I threatened to punch his head; that is very different from killing him.
human
And the pistol? And the footprints?
gpt
I don't know, I can't explain it, but--I know I am innocent. You say I had a motive for this crime. You're mistaken, I had _no_ motive.
human
Passion and jealousy have stood as motives for murder from the beginning of time.
gpt
There was _no_ passion and _no_ jealousy,
human
Are you mocking me? cried the judge.
gpt
What is there in these letters, he touched the packet before him,
human
Yes, but----
gpt
Didn't you follow her to Europe in the steerage because of your infatuation? Didn't you bear sufferings and privations to be near her? Shall I go over the details of what you did, as I have them here, in order to refresh your memory?
human
No, said Kittredge hoarsely, and his eye was beginning to flame,
gpt
You mean--
human
I mean that I am fighting for my life, and now that _she_ has admitted this thing, he eyed the woman scornfully,
gpt
I am free to tell the truth, all of it.
human
That is what we want,
gpt
I thought I loved her with a fine, true love, but she showed me it was only a base imitation. I offered her my youth, my strength, my future, and she would have taken them and--broken them and scattered them in my face and--and laughed at me. When I found it out, I--well, never mind, but you can bet all your pretty French philosophy I didn't go about Paris looking for billiard players to kill on her account.