human
If you're not Groener now, said Coquenil, surveying his work with a satisfied smile,
gpt
I'll swear you're his twin brother. It's the best disguise I ever saw, I'll take my hat off to you on that.
human
Extraordinary! murmured the judge.
gpt
Groener, do you still deny that this disguise belongs to you?
human
I do.
gpt
You've never worn it before?
human
Never.
gpt
And you're not Adolf Groener?
human
Certainly not.
gpt
You haven't a young cousin known as Alice Groener?
human
No.
gpt
Turn around!
human
Oh, Cousin Adolf!
gpt
Did you expect to see this man here?
human
Oh, no,
gpt
No one had told you you might see him?
human
No one.
gpt
You did not prepare her for this meeting in any way?
human
No,
gpt
What is your name?
human
Alice Groener,
gpt
And this man's name?
human
Adolf Groener.
gpt
You are sure?
human
Of course, he is my cousin.
gpt
How long have you known him?
human
Why I--I've always known him.
gpt
Am I your cousin now?
human
Oh!
gpt
Look at me! Am I your cousin?
human
I--I don't know,
gpt
Am I talking to you with your cousin's voice? Pay attention--tell me--am I?
human
It's not my cousin's voice,
gpt
And it's _not_ your cousin, declared the prisoner. Then he faced the judge.
human
Is it reasonable that I could have lived with this girl for years in so intimate a way and been wearing a disguise all the time? It's absurd. She has good eyes, she would have detected this wig and false beard. Did you ever suspect that your cousin wore a wig or a false beard?
gpt
No, she replied,
human
I never did.
gpt
Ah! And the voice? Did you ever hear your cousin speak with my voice?
human
No, never.
gpt
You see, he triumphed to the magistrate.
human
She can't identify me as her cousin, for the excellent reason that I'm not her cousin. You can't change a man's personality by making him wear another man's clothes and false hair. I tell you I'm _not_ Groener.
gpt
Who are you then?
human
I'm not obliged to say who I am, and you have no business to ask unless you can show that I have committed a crime, which you haven't done yet. Ask my fat friend in the corner if that isn't the law.
gpt
The prisoner is correct,
human
Certainly, nodded the latter, and, turning to Alice, who sat wondering and trembling through this agitated scene, he said:
gpt
Thank you, mademoiselle, you may go.
human
Groener, you say that we have not yet shown you guilty of any crime. Be patient and we will overcome that objection. Where were you about midnight on the night of the 4th of July?
gpt
I can't say offhand,
human
Try to remember.
gpt
Why should I?
human
You refuse? Then I will stimulate your memory,
gpt
Do you recognize this man?
human
No,
gpt
That is the man, he cried,
human
One moment, said the magistrate.
gpt
What is your name?
human
Alexander Godin,
gpt
You live at the Hôtel des Étrangers on the Rue Racine?
human
Yes, sir.
gpt
You are engaged to a young dressmaker who has a room near yours on the sixth floor?
human
I _was_ engaged to her, said Alexander sorrowfully,
gpt
No matter. You were suspicious of this young person. And on the night of July 4th you attacked a man passing along the balcony. Is that correct?
human
To say that I attacked him is--is a manner of speaking. The fact is he--he--
gpt
I understand, he turned and nearly choked you. The marks of his nails are still on your neck?
human
They are, sir,
gpt
And you are sure this is the man?
human
Perfectly sure. I'll swear to it.
gpt
Good. Now stand still. Come here, Groener. Reach out your arms as if you were going to choke this young man. Don't be afraid, he won't hurt you. No, no, the other arm! I want you to put your _left_ hand, on his neck with the nails of your thumb and fingers exactly on these marks. I said exactly. There is the thumb--right! Now the first finger--good! Now the third! And now the little finger! Don't cramp it up, reach it out. Ah!