President Bourriche devoted six whole minutes to the examination of Crainquebille. The examination would have been more enlightening if the accused had replied to the questions asked him. But Crainquebille was unaccustomed to discussion; and in such a company his lips were sealed by reverence and fear. So he was silent: and the President answered his own question; his replies were staggering. He concluded: ‘Finally, you admit having said, “Mort aux vaches!”.’

‘I said, “Mort aux vaches!” because the policeman said, “Mort aux vaches!” so then I said, “Mort aux vaches!”’

He meant that, being overwhelmed by the most unexpected of accusations, he had in his amazement merely repeated the curious words falsely attributed to him, and which he had certainly never pronounced. He had said, ‘Mort aux vaches!’ as he might have said, ‘I capable of insulting any one! how could you believe it?’

President Bourriche put a different interpretation on the incident.

‘Do you maintain,’ he said, ‘that the policeman was, himself, the first to utter the exclamation?’

Crainquebille gave up trying to explain. It was too difficult.

‘You do not persist in your statement. You are quite right,’ said the President.

And he had the witness called.

Constable 64, by name Bastien Matra, swore he spoke the truth and nothing but the truth. Then he gave evidence in the following terms:

‘I was on my beat on October 20, at noon, when I noticed in the Rue Montmartre a person who appeared to be a hawker, unduly blocking the traffic with his barrow opposite No. 328. Three times I intimated to him the order to move on, but he refused to comply. And when I gave him warning that I was about to charge him, he retorted by crying: “Mort aux vaches!” Which I took as an insult.’

This evidence, delivered in a firm and moderate manner, the magistrates received with obvious approbation. The witnesses for the defence were Madame Bayard, shoemaker’s wife, and Dr. David Matthieu, chief physician to the Hospital AmbroiseParé, officer of the Legion of Honour. Madame Bayard had seen nothing and heard nothing. Dr. Matthieu was in the crowd which had gathered round the policeman, who was ordering the costermonger to move on. His evidence led to a new episode in the trial.

‘I witnessed the incident,’ he said, ‘I observed that the constable had made a mistake; he had not been insulted. I went up to him and called his attention to the fact. The officer insisted on arresting the costermonger, and told me to follow him to the Commissioner of Police. This I did. Before the Commissioner, I repeated my declaration.

‘You may sit down,’ said the President. ‘Usher, recall witness Matra.’

‘Matra, when you proceeded to arrest the accused, did not Dr. Matthieu point out to you that you were mistaken?’

‘That is to say, Monsieur le Président, that he insulted me.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He said, “Mort aux vaches!”’

Uproarious laughter arose from the audience.