He was politeand gentle to Mathilde, whom he saw to
be exasperated by the mostviolent jealousy.
Julien looked at his watch, and rememberedM.
Julien,wishing to treat him with respect, explained all his reasons to
him.
Very well, so be it, alls well that ends
well.
Can she becrying, by any chance, he wondered. I
have, therefore, deserved death, Gentlemen of the Jury.
Would an unbeliever have applied himself for years
on end to learningthe Holy Scriptures?
Mathilde kept on saying to him in a faint voice: He
is there, in thenext room. Heaven knows what he will say of me to Madame deRenal!
Julien, who was dead tired, heard them discussinground him whether this delay
augured well or ill.
Julien repeated to himself with despairin his
heart, when at length he was alone.
Well, the Lord has given me inspiration for making
my testament. No finelanguage, he murmured to him as he stood up to
speak.
Having made this decision, he relapsed into his
dreams .
For the first time death appeared to
himhorrible.
These provincials are less evil-minded than
Isupposed, he said to himself. His mind ran swiftly over all the possible ways of
escape.
Faith, I am dying of hunger, said his counsel, and
you? Several of the jury, evidently friends of theseladies, spoke to them and seemed
to reassure them.
It is true only in appearance, replied
Julien.
And he continued his reasoning aloud, without a
thought ofthe turnkeys presence.
You do not understand my position, said the former
Mayorof Verrieres. You do not understand my position, said the former Mayorof
Verrieres. He was politeand gentle to Mathilde, whom he saw to be exasperated by the
mostviolent jealousy.
They are very great people in France, theycombine
all the social advantages. On Sunday afternoons he will display his gold to all his
enviousneighbours in Verrieres. This cruel parting had begun the day ill for
Julien.
Mathilde again, hethought to himself, half
awake.
My soul would understand him, my soul has need
ofhim.
He did not know how to get rid of hisfather. He
felt a compelling need of solitude, and how was he to secure it?
Would an unbeliever have applied himself for years
on end to learningthe Holy Scriptures?
If avolcano opened beneath the prison, in the next
two months, you wouldbe saved. Faith, I am dying of hunger, said his counsel, and
you? I am in the condemned cell, hesaid to himself, awaiting my sentence. If you
knew him, you would have no doubt of our success.
How often have not the sere hearts despised me for
thisdefect!
On entering the court, he was struck by the
elegance of thearchitecture.