His silence as to the important matters of which we know was dead against him.

It would seem as if this reticence would be fatal for him.

He resented the President's reprimands.

He was told that his silence might mean death.
"Very well," he said; "I will submit to it; but I am innocent." With that splendid ability which has made his fame, Maitre Robert took advantage of the incident, and tried to show that it brought out in noble relief his client's character; for only heroic natures could remain silent for moral reasons in face of such a danger.

The eminent advocate however, only succeeded in assuring those who were already assured of Darzac's innocence.