In the courtroom, the young lawyer defending the victims listened with a smile as the judge distorted right and wrong, yet he never uttered a word.
Soon, amidst the wails of the murdered siblings’ parents, Vergniaud raised his gavel and declared, “The court pronounces that Runashe is not guilty of the murder charge and is hereby acquitted.”
Just as his gavel was about to strike, the young lawyer suddenly stood up and shouted, “This is an illegal judgment! You are trampling on the law!”
Vergniaud shook his head—he had seen many such unruly young people before. With a contemptuous smile, he waved to the bailiffs, “Get this guy out! What’s his name? He will be charged with contempt of court afterward.”
The lawyer stood his ground and said, “My name is Danton! Georges Jacques Danton, go ahead and charge me!”
He then held up several sheets of paper over his head, “But first, Mister Judge, you need to explain what these letters are all about!”
“Letters? What letters?” Vergniaud looked at the pages and felt they seemed familiar. Suddenly his face turned pale; those appeared to be the letters he had written to Valjean! How did they end up in this lawyer’s hands?!
The letters had naturally been provided to the lawyer by the Police Affairs Department.
Not long ago, Joseph happened to hear Fouche mention that the lawyer for the victims in the “Runashe Case” was named Danton. He immediately had someone check with the High Court’s registered attorneys and learned there was only one named “Jacques Danton.”
Which is to say, this young lawyer was later the leader of the Jacobins.
In history, Danton was fiercely opposed to evil and possessed extraordinary oratorical skills, easily capable of inciting a riot of thousands.
So Joseph decided then and there to entrust the task of dealing with Vergniaud to him. Faced with such an egregiously wicked case, Danton would surely make a significant uproar.
At the trial, Danton leaped onto the bench of the public gallery and loudly read the parts of Vergniaud’s letter that could serve as evidence: “My dear old friend, I saw your servant. But I need to confirm one more time, do you really want me to intervene in Runashe’s case?
“As for that money, it’s all for greasing the wheels. You know, just the evidence room alone will cost us ten thousand livres, after all, destroying evidence is a grave crime…
“I don’t know how they plan to deal with that witness, but I swear to you, as long as that damned carpenter keeps his mouth shut, I will be able to acquit your nephew…
“Poor Runashe must have had his fill of the damp and moldy prison. Oh, he was originally going to stay there until death, even end up on the gallows. But rest assured, after the next session, I will have him released…”
“Bailiffs! Stop him!” Vergniaud pointed at Danton, screaming like a madman, “He’s lying!”
The few bailiffs in the courtroom had yet to react, and Vergniaud, impatient, stepped on a chair and leaped out from behind the judge’s bench, eyes red, lunging toward Danton.
But the latter agilely dashed between the court’s tables and chairs, continuing to read the letter as he did so.
By the time he finished reading the key parts, he had already run to the courtroom door. He pushed away the bailiff guarding it and dashed out.
Outside the High Court, over a thousand citizens had already gathered, many more than the usual protesters, summoned by the likes of Mala and Demulan, all to coordinate with the trial.
Danton rushed to the iron railings of the courthouse and shouted, “That shameless and despicable man has insulted the law before everyone! He acquitted a murderer!”
Angry roars immediately erupted from the crowd, “Hang the killer!”
“Hang the corrupt judge too!”
“Execution! It must be execution!”
Danton gestured for silence and raised the letters in his hand, “I have evidence of that judge’s corruption and will ensure he receives the punishment he deserves!”
A few bailiffs wanted to stop Danton, but under the threat of the thousand-strong crowd, they trembled and dared not approach.
In fact, just ten paces away, more than thirty policemen stood ready. If the bailiffs made a move, they would instantly rush in to rescue Danton.
Danton continued to shout, “To prevent those people from destroying the evidence, I suggest we hold a public trial right here!”
The crowd immediately erupted again:
“Public trial!”
“Right here, let us watch the trial!”
“The judge who let the killer go, come out!”
And so, the angry mob yelled throughout the entire day, their numbers growing steadily.
It wasn’t until twilight when Chief Minister Brian appeared, publicly promising that the Royal Court of Justice would take charge and hold a public trial for Vergniaud’s bribery case in the square outside the High Court, that people gradually dispersed.
At eleven o’clock at night, once Vergniaud had his subordinates confirm multiple times that there were no longer any protesters outside the court, did he slip out the back door, disguised in a coachman’s clothes.
However, what he didn’t know was that the Police Affairs Department had been watching him from the shadows all the while.
Vergniaud’s carriage had just passed two streets when he heard someone shout, “The judge who colluded with the killer is right here!”
“Come quickly, everyone, Vergniaud is here!”
Torches quickly lit up around them, and Mala, leading hundreds of people, rushed up to pull Vergniaud out of the carriage and beat him mercilessly without a word.
In the corner, dozens of police officers felt it was about enough and hurriedly appeared, whistling to part the crowd—after all, they couldn’t really beat the criminal to death or there would be no one to stand trial.
But the Vergniaud on the ground had already been beaten beyond recognition, convulsing as he lay in a pool of blood.
Two days later, a judge sent by the Royal Court of Justice conducted a public trial for Vergniaud at the High Court’s entrance.
The Royal Court of Justice, under the control of the King, still had significant authority before the reign of Louis XIV; over time, its power gradually shifted to the High Court, and it became largely ceremonial.
The judges could hardly believe that they would have the chance to preside over a real case.
However, under the watchful eyes of thousands of angry citizens, no one dared to question their qualifications to try the case.
Vergniaud, with one leg broken, was wrapped in bandages and lay to one side, occasionally letting out pained moans.
Danton handed the letters to the judge, also claiming that there were more in Vergniaud’s home.
The judge immediately ordered a search of Vergniaud’s house, and they quickly found “Valjean’s” letters in his study.
The correspondence from both sides mutually corroborated each other, further solidifying the fact that Vergniaud took bribes to absolve Runashe.
Vergniaud lying on the plank could not comprehend how these letters, which he was sure he had burned, could appear in his home.
In fact, two copies of “Valjean’s” letters had been written—one for Vergniaud to burn, and the other quietly placed in his study by her maid.
Shortly afterwards, the Monteli family was also called to testify. Under the evidence and the angry gaze of countless people, the couple quickly admitted to bribing the judge.
And the Royal Court of Justice publicly pronounced its judgment, finding Vergniaud guilty of bribery, cover-ups, and destruction of evidence, sentencing him to fifty years in prison. Given Vergniaud’s poor conduct, the court announced that all the cases he had previously overseen would be sent back for retrial.
The thousands of citizens watching erupted into a thunderous cheer at once, but Danton, Mala, and others were not elated. The verdict they wanted had only one form: execution.
