He looked
toward his mother, and nodded his head as if asking, "Is it so?"
She answered him all a-tremble, all suffused with warm joy.
"There, now the trial has begun!" whispered Sizov. "How he gave
it to them! Eh, mother?"
CHAPTER XVI
She silently nodded her head and smiled, satisfied that her son had
spoken so bravely, perhaps still more satisfied that he had finished.
The thought darted through her mind that the speech was likely to
increase the dangers threatening Pavel; but her heart palpitated
with pride, and his words seemed to settle in her bosom.
Andrey arose, swung his body forward, looked at the judges sidewise,
and said:
"Gentlemen of the defense----"
"The court is before you, and not the defense!" observed the judge
of the sickly face angrily and loudly. By Andrey's expression the
mother perceived that he wanted to tease them. His mustache
quivered. A cunning, feline smirk familiar to her lighted up his
eyes. He stroked his head with his long hands, and fetched a breath.
"Is that so?" he said, swinging his head. "I think not. That you
are not the judges, but only the defendants----"
"I request you to adhere to what directly pertains to the case,"
remarked the old man dryly.
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