Explore "A Rogue's Tragedy" by Bernard Capes on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The trial of Mr Trix, ex-Prefect of Faissigny, for the murder of his patron, made a tremendous stir, not only locally, but throughout the Cisalpine Kingdom of Victor-Amadeus. It was really a trial of strength between the forces of revolt and those of reactionism -- a tug of war between Piedmont and Savoy, with the Alps for toe-line. But from the first there was no doubt as to the issue. Wind, muscle, new blood, self-confidence, were all in favour of the Savoyard champions, while the acclamations of a whole nation, their neighbours and backers, thundered in their ears. Opposed were the degenerates of an effete _régime_; themselves not without a spitfire courage, but in physique no match for this new vigorous young Demos -- for this bristling force suddenly sprung into life from seed of dead dragons' teeth. To Savoy this opportunity to assert its virtual independence came at the ripe moment with the means to point the right moral. Cartouche offered himself providentially for the rope with which to test the relative haulage values of Progress and Conservatism. That was his obliging use at the moment.
He was not personally unpopular, save with the Illuminati, and other such fanatic extremists; and he was arraigned on a popular charge -- that of having destroyed an enemy of the people. But he stood convicted of privilege -- was an autocrat's nominee -- and the question at issue was not one of popularity but of principle. The severe justice of the people -- now first coming into evidence -- had to be vindicated; prejudice and partiality and other dynastic prerogatives had to be suppressed. Wherefore the matter was held to turn not so much on the guilt or innocence of the prisoner, as on the necessity of making an example of a King's favourite. Liberty, Justice and Equality, as representing in the bulk the new heresy of humanity, were unanimous in demanding the sacrifice of this scapegoat to the sins of his class. He was offered up, in the public esteem, long before he was sentenced.