Page:The red and the black (1916).djvu/520

500 Valenod advanced with a slow and melodramatic step. He was followed by all the jurors. He coughed, and then declared on his soul and conscience that the jury's unanimous verdict was that Julien Sorel was guilty of murder, and of murder with premeditation. This verdict involved the death penalty, which was pronounced a moment afterwards. Julien looked at his watch, and remembered M. de Lavalette. It was a quarter past two. "To-day is Friday," he thought.

"Yes, but this day is lucky for the Valenod who has got me convicted.… I am watched too well for Mathilde to manage to save me like madame de Lavalette saved her husband.… So in three days' time, at this very hour, I shall know what view to take about the great perhaps."

At this moment he heard a cry and was called back to the things of this world. The women around him were sobbing: he saw that all faces were turned towards a little gallery built into the crowning of a Gothic pilaster. He knew later that Mathilde had concealed herself there. As the cry was not repeated, everybody began to look at Julien again, as the gendarmes were trying to get him through the crowd.

"Let us try not to give that villain Valenod any chance of laughing at me," thought Julien. "With what a contrite sycophantic expression he pronounced the verdict which entails the death penalty, while that poor president of the assizes, although he has been a judge for years and years, had tears in his eyes as he sentenced me. What a joy the Valenod must find in revenging himself for our former rivalry for madame de Renal's favors! … So I shall never see her again! The thing is finished.… A last good-bye between us is impossible I feel it.… How happy I should have been to have told her all the horror I feel for my crime!

"Mere words. I consider myself justly convicted."