Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 01.pdf/394

Rh After an examination which I have made of the information furnished me, a stay of your execution has been obtained. Now, this is what I have to say to you, and what I ask of you:—

"Although your judges have condemned you, you ought to respect them even in their error, if, perchance, they have erred in your trial; for even supposing you are innocent, this condemnation is not on account of their bad hearts, but because a mass of circumstances and presumptions have rendered you guilty in their eyes; therefore, your first duty is to pray earnestly to that all-wise Judge, whom nothing can deceive, that He will make the truth appear to all who are or have been interested in your case.

"If I succeed in obtaining a revision of your trial, I shall be able to see you and question you. Prepare yourself to tell me the whole truth; for I warn you that if I perceive the slightest attempt on your part to deceive me, I shall instantly abandon you. I trust with all my heart that you are innocent."

There was no time to be lost; the fatal day drew near. The order staying the execution did not reach Rouen until Friday the 26th of July, and was not received by the procureur du roi at Caen until Sunday the 28th. The execution was to take place on the 29th, and all the preparations had been made for the mournful spectacle.

On Sunday at noon Victoire was informed of this unhoped-for order which saved her from a horrible death. Up to this moment she had suffered unspeakable agonies.

M. Lecauchois was now able to proceed carefully and without undue haste. Finally, on the 24th of May, 1784, he obtained an order from the Council of State directing the Parliament of Rouen to reopen the case and proceed if necessary to a new trial. This order was not received by the Parliament of Rouen until the 14th day of August.

M. Lecauchois was at length able to confer with Victoire, who was transferred to the prison at Rouen. The unhappy girl had remained in solitary confinement at Caen twenty-eight months.

The detestable influence of the procureur du roi pursued her even at Rouen. She had scarcely arrived at the palace prison when an officer cried to the jailer, "Put her in a cell! put her in a cell!" An order emanating from an invisible authority caused her to be confined in a cell the windows of which were carefully stopped up. It was forbidden to allow any one to approach her, no matter who he might be.

Indignant at the manœuvres which threatened to render ineffective the humane intentions of the Council of State, M. Lecauchois actively occupied himself in endeavoring to obtain access to this new prison. He finally succeeded in enlisting in the case M. Tiercelin, procureur of Parliament, and the two were admitted to confer with their client. They made them give her a little air and a little light; that is to say, the window in the cell was opened when her counsel came to visit her. It was decided, however, that the conferences between Victoire and her defenders must take place in the presence of the jailer or one of his assistants.

This new solitary confinement lasted eighteen months.

During this time menacing rumors came from an unknown source, predicting a check to this process of revision which was so slow in commencing. It was said in the city that the deadly fire would soon be lighted at Caen, and that this time nothing could save the girl from the flames. It was necessary, it was believed, to reassure the partisans of Victoire and to intimidate her enemies, that an order should be issued in advance, directing that the girl Salmon should be allowed fully and peaceably the benefit of any new judgment which she might obtain. It was still further necessary for the king, Louis XVI., to issue a special order to the Procureur-général of Rouen to watch over the safety of Victoire.

Fortified by these new guarantees, freely accorded by the sovereign power, M. Lecauchois was able to confer with his client, interrogate her regarding the trial, and assure himself, by her naïve responses, of the de-