Faldoni, parts 2912 - 2915

 

2912. But Faldoni was not as complicated a person as Jean Valjean, or as jaded and corrupted as Fedka. The only thing they shared was the first letter of their names, but that is not as insignificant as it may seem. As so often happens with a simple man, Faldoni was quick to condemn himself for the theft of the ultramarine blue pigment, and readily confessed, and held himself responsible and offered no excuses or explanations.

 

 2913. Faldoni’s trial was not a trial in the sense that we understand it. When the church courts met to try a man, as a rule the outcome was a forgone conclusion, but even though a guilty verdict could be expected, still there were certain forms and procedures that were followed. No jury was involved, but three judges handed down the verdict after the prosecution presented the evidence. Some unimportant local priest would stand up and present some sort of a defense, as a time honored formality.

 2914. There was no difference between Faldoni’s room in the monastery and a traditional jail cell so Faldoni was remanded to his room for a period of time while he awaited his trial. The only real difference was that the door to his cell now featured a lock on the outside, whereas, in the past his door had neither a lock or a latch.

  2915. He retained all of his materials except obviously for the container of ultramarine blue which was now locked in the courts storage rooms and featured a crimson band holding a script describing it as evidence in his upcoming trial.