Rosalie Prudent
There was a real mystery in this affair which neither the jury, nor thepresident, nor the public prosecutor himself could understand.The girl Prudent (Rosalie), servant at the Varambots', of Nantes, havingbecome enceinte without the knowledge of her masters, had, during thenight, killed and buried her child in the garden.It was the usual story of the infanticides committed by servant girls.But there was one inexplicable circumstance about this one. When thepolice searched the girl Prudent's room they discovered a completeinfant's outfit, made by Rosalie herself, who had spent her nights forthe last three months in cutting and sewing it. The grocer from whom shehad bought her candles, out of her own wages, for this long piece of workhad come to testify. It came out, moreover, that the sage-femme of thedistrict, informed by Rosalie of her condition, had given her allnecessary instructions and counsel in case the event should happen at atime when it might not be possible to get help. She had also procured aplace at Poissy for the girl Prudent, who foresaw that her presentemployers would discharge her, for the Varambot couple did not triflewith morality.There were present at the trial both the man and the woman, a middle-class pair from the provinces, living on their income. They were soexasperated against this girl, who had sullied their house, that theywould have liked to see her guillotined on the spot without a trial.The spiteful depositions they made against her became accusations intheir mouths.The defendant, a large, handsome girl of Lower Normandy, well educatedfor her station in life, wept continuously and would not answer toanything.The court and the spectators were forced to the opinion that she hadcommitted this barbarous act in a moment of despair and madness, sincethere was every indication that she had expected to keep and bring up herchild.The president tried for the last time to make her speak, to get someconfession, and, having urged her with much gentleness, he finally madeher understand that all these men gathered here to pass judgment upon herwere not anxious for her death and might even have pity on her.Then she made up her mind to speak."Come, now, tell us, first, who is the father of this child?" he asked.Until then she had obstinately refused to give his name.But she replied suddenly, looking at her masters who had so cruellycalumniated her:"It is Monsieur Joseph, Monsieur Varambot's nephew."The couple started in their seats and cried with one voice-- "That's nottrue! She lies! This is infamous!"The president had them silenced and continued "Go on, please, and tell ushow it all happened."Then she suddenly began to talk freely, relieving her pent-up heart, thatpoor, solitary, crushed heart--laying bare her sorrow, her whole sorrow,before those severe men whom she had until now taken for enemies andinflexible judges."Yes, it was Monsieur Joseph Varambot, when he came on leave last year.""What does Mr. Joseph Varambot do?""He is a non-commissioned officer in the artillery, monsieur. Well, hestayed two months at the house, two months of the summer. I thoughtnothing about it when he began to look at me, and then flatter me, andmake love to me all day long. And I let myself be taken in, monsieur.He kept saying to me that I was a handsome girl, that I was good company,that I just suited him--and I, I liked him well enough. What could I do?One listens to these things when one is alone--all alone--as I was. I amalone in the world, monsieur. I have no one to talk to--no one to tellmy troubles to. I have no father, no mother, no brother, no sister,nobody. And when he began to talk to me it was as if I had a brother whohad come back. And then he asked me to go with him to the river oneevening, so that we might talk without disturbing any one. I went--Idon't know--I don't know how it happened. He had his arm around me.Really I didn't want to--no--no-- I could not--I felt like crying, theair was so soft--the moon was shining. No, I swear to you--I could not--he did what he wanted. That went on three weeks, as long as he stayed.I could have followed him to the ends of the world. He went away. I didnot know that I was enceinte. I did not know it until the month after--"She began to cry so bitterly that they had to give her time to collectherself.Then the president resumed with the tone of a priest at the confessional:"Come, now, go on."She began to talk again: "When I realized my condition I went to seeMadame Boudin, who is there to tell you, and I asked her how it would be,in case it should come if she were not there. Then I made the outfit,sewing night after night, every evening until one o'clock in the morning;and then I looked for another place, for I knew very well that I shouldbe sent away, but I wanted to stay in the house until the very last, soas to save my pennies, for I have not got very much and I should need mymoney for the little one.""Then you did not intend to kill him?""Oh, certainly not, monsieur!""Why did you kill him, then?""It happened this way. It came sooner than I expected. It came upon mein the kitchen, while I was doing the dishes. Monsieur and MadameVarambot were already asleep, so I went up, not without difficulty,dragging myself up by the banister, and I lay down on the bare floor.It lasted perhaps one hour, or two, or three; I don't know, I had suchpain; and then I pushed him out with all my strength. I felt that hecame out and I picked him up."Ah! but I was glad, I assure you! I did all that Madame Boudin told meto do. And then I laid him on my bed. And then such a pain griped meagain that I thought I should die. If you knew what it meant, you there,you would not do so much of this. I fell on my knees, and then toppledover backward on the floor; and it griped me again, perhaps one hour,perhaps two. I lay there all alone--and then another one comes--anotherlittle one--two, yes, two, like this. I took him up as I did the firstone, and then I put him on the bed, the two side by side. Is itpossible, tell me, two children, and I who get only twenty francs amonth? Say, is it possible? One, yes, that can be managed by goingwithout things, but not two. That turned my head. What do I know aboutit? Had I any choice, tell me?"What could I do? I felt as if my last hour had come. I put the pillowover them, without knowing why. I could not keep them both; and then Ithrew myself down, and I lay there, rolling over and over and cryinguntil I saw the daylight come into the window. Both of them were quitedead under the pillow. Then I took them under my arms and went down thestairs out in the vegetable garden. I took the gardener's spade and Iburied them under the earth, digging as deep a hole as I could, one hereand the other one there, not together, so that they might not talk oftheir mother if these little dead bodies can talk. What do I know aboutit?"And then, back in my bed, I felt so sick that I could not get up. Theysent for the doctor and he understood it all. I'm telling you the truth,Your Honor. Do what you like with me; I'm ready."Half of the jury were blowing their noses violently to keep from crying.The women in the courtroom were sobbing.The president asked her:"Where did you bury the other one?""The one that you have?" she asked."Why, this one--this one was in the artichokes.""Oh, then the other one is among the strawberries, by the well."And she began to sob so piteously that no one could hear her unmoved.The girl Rosalie Prudent was acquitted.
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