Of course he denies everything. But mark my words! After
six or seven months, when the prison diet begins to take effect, he
will confess. I know the species; it is all too common. Meanwhile we
must congratulate ourselves on having tracked down the culprit so
soon."
To condemn for homicide the cousin of a Catholic priest warmed the
cockles of his free-thinking heart. In fact, on second thoughts, it was
better than if he had caught the real murderer who might have turned
out to be an atheist, which would have been bad enough--or possibly a
freemason, which would have been really awkward. The news spread
rapidly over the island, and caused wild rejoicings among the
anti-clericals.
The rejoicings were of brief duration.
Torquemada, as usual, was in fighting trim. Like all God-fearing
ascetics, he was a man-eater at heart. He made up his mind long ago to
eat the judge, whom he considered an offence to Heaven and earth--the
official mouthpiece of the devil. Up to the present he had bided his
time, waiting for a good opportunity.
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