Leaning forward, he gravely
addressed the young man in the tribune:
"Monsieur, if you wish to be heard, let me beg of you not to be
provocative in your language." And then to the others: "Messieurs,
if we are to proceed, I beg that you will restrain your feelings
until the deputy-suppleant has concluded his discourse."
"I shall endeavour to obey, M. le President, leaving provocation to
the gentlemen of the Right. If the few words I have used so far
have been provocative, I regret it. But it was necessary that I
should refer to the distinguished deputy whose place I come so
unworthily to fill, and it was unavoidable that I should refer to
the event which has procured us this sad necessity. The deputy
Lagron was a man of singular nobility of mind, a selfless, dutiful,
zealous man, inflamed by the high purpose of doing his duty by his
electors and by this Assembly. He possessed what his opponents
would call a dangerous gift of eloquence."
La Tour d'Azyr writhed at the well-known phrase - his own phrase
- the phrase that he had used to explain his action in the matter
of Philippe de Vilmorin, the phrase that from time to time had been
cast in his teeth with such vindictive menace.
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