A word about the Jury

Whispered by the public prosecutor to Pappilon in court before the hearing.

"Prisoner at the bar, just you keep quiet, and above all don't you attempt to defend yourself. I'll send you down the drain, all right. And i trust you've no faith in the jury? Don't kid yourself. Those twelve men know nothing whatsoever about life. Look at them, lined up there opposite you. Twelve bastards brought up to Paris from some perishing village in the country: can you see them clearly? Small shopkeepers, pensioners, tradesmen. It's not worth describing them to you in detail. Surely you don't expect them to understand the life you lead in Montmartre or what it's like to be twenty-five? As far as they're concerned Pigalle and the Place Blanche are exactly the same as hell and all night-birds are natural enemies of society. They are all unspeakably proud of being jurymen at the Seine Assizes.

And what's more, I can tell you that they loathe their status - they loathe belonging to the pinched, dreary lower middle class. And now you make your appearance here, all young and handsome. Do you really suppose for a moment that I'm not going to make them see you as a night- prowling Montmatre Don Juan? That will put them dead against you right away. You're too well dressed: you ought to have come in something modest indeed. That was a huge tactical error of yours. Cant you see how jealous of your suit they are? They all buy their clothes off the peg - they've never even dreamt of having a suit made to measure by a tailor."

First Exercise Book, Down the Drain
The Assizes
Papillon by Henri Charriere