american tragedy

Chapter 119 (2)
Chapter 314 (2)
After settling these details, Belknap said he wanted to go to the jail to see Clyde.It was getting late, he hadn't had dinner, and probably couldn't, because he wanted to have an "open and honest" talk with the young man.Katchman had told him he would find this man difficult to deal with.But for Belknap, he was against Mason, so he believed that he was capable enough to understand Clyde.Buoyed by this thought, his legal curiosity grew stronger.The case was both romantic and dramatic.He already knew the name Sandra Finchley through secret channels.What kind of person was she? Was there any slight hope that she would be called to defend Clyde? He knew that her name could not be publicized, because important political connections would not allow it.He was eager to take on this cunning, ambitious and incompetent young man.

When he came to the detention center, he handed Katschman's letter to Sheriff Slack, and asked to take it upstairs, near Clyde's cell, and observe Clyde secretly while he was unaware.He was taken quietly to the second floor, and the door to Clyde's cell was opened so that he could go in alone.Take a close look for a while at the place only a few steps away from Clyde's cell.Clyde was lying face down on the iron bed, his head in his hands, and the plate of food in the small hole in the cell door hadn't been touched at all.He stretched his legs and looked despondent.After Katchman left, that is, after the second time he tried to get away with bullshit lies and failed, he became more desperate and even cried.His shoulders twitched, silently revealing how he really felt at the moment.Looking at this scene, Belknap remembered the absurd things in his youth and felt sorry for him.In his opinion, a murderer without a conscience could never cry.

He walked to the door of Clyde's prison, paused and said, "Come on, Clyde, don't do this, and don't do it again. Your case may not be as unthinkable as you think. Would you like to Sit up and talk to a lawyer who thinks he might help? My name is Belknap - Alvin Belknap, I live in Bridgeburg. The guy who just came here, Katchman, asked me Come. You can't get along with him, do you? Me too. I don't think he's the same as us. Here's a letter from him authorizing me to represent you, would you like to see it?"

He pushed the letter through the narrow gap in the iron bars with a kind and confident air.Clyde was a little curious, hesitated for a moment, and then walked towards this side.There was a sincerity and understanding in this man's voice that was different from others, which gave Clyde some courage.He looked at the letter, smiled, and gave it back.

"As I thought," said Belknap, in a tone of great confidence, pleased with the effect of his opening statement, which he attributed to his charisma. "It's good, I know we hit it off. You and I can talk openly, like you would talk to your mother. And you don't have to worry about your words getting in other people's ears unless you ask. Because if you Yes, I'm your lawyer and you're my client, Clyde. Tomorrow, or any time you like, we sit down and tell me all you think you should tell me, and I'll ask you What I think I should know is whether I can help you, and I think you also understand that no matter from which point of view, if you help me, you are helping yourself. I will try my best to save you. Then What do you think, Clyde?"

He smiled a little, encouragingly, knowingly, kindly.Clyde felt that for the first time since he had been here, he had met someone who he could trust and was not in danger.He had planned to tell him everything.As for where he came from, he couldn't tell himself, but at least he liked this person.Already, albeit dimly, he felt that if this man knew all the truth, he would understand him, and perhaps sympathize with him.Next, Belknap elaborated on how his opponent—Mason—had conceived of Clyde's guilt, saying that if he could think of a reasonable defense, he could delay the case until Mason retired.So Clyde said to think about it tonight, and when he came back tomorrow or any other time, he would tell him the whole truth.

The next day Belknap sat in a chair, chewing a chocolate lollipop and listening carefully.Sitting on the iron bed in front of him, Clyde recounted all his experiences since his arrival in Lycurgos: how he came here, why he came, the incident of killing the kid in Kansas City, but he did not mention his reservations. The newspaper clipping that he remembered and forgot; his first encounter with Roberta, his lust for her, her conception, how he managed to save her from this accident, how she later threatened him to make public , in extreme panic and pain, he saw the news in the "Unified Times" and wanted to imitate it once.But Belknap should understand that this was not something he came up with.Even in the end, he didn't kill her on purpose, no, it was just an accident.He had a camera, and of course the tripod Mason had found was his too.The camera caught Roberta by accident and sank to the bottom of the lake, where he later hid the tripod under a log.The camera must still be at the bottom of the lake, and if the film in it hadn't been soaked, there were pictures of him and Roberta on it.But he never hit her on purpose, no.She leans over, he inadvertently hits her, and the boat capsizes.Before capsizing, he had made up his mind to be ruthless, but when things came to an end, he couldn't do anything, and his mind was dizzy.When talking, Clyde tried to describe it as realistically as possible, but now he can't go on.

Belknap was tired and disturbed by the twists and turns of the story.He felt it impossible to bring to any jury in this backwoods the innocence of these insidious plans, and their actual execution, let alone convince them.Later, his heart was in a mess, he had some doubts, and his mind was exhausted.He stood up, put his hand on Clyde's shoulder, and said, "Oh, I think that's all for today. I understand your feelings very well, and I understand the cause and effect of this matter. I'm afraid you are tired too. Can you It's good to be so frank with me, because it must be hard for you to say it. Of course there's no need to say any more now. It's a long way to go. I have things to attend to. Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, I'll I need to talk to you about some details. You need to rest for a while, and you'll be fresh when we work together. But don't worry, don't worry now.

I, you could say me and my colleagues are going to rescue you.I'm bringing my colleague to meet you, you're sure to like him.But I want to draw your attention to two things.One thing is, don't be intimidated by others. Anyway, I or my colleagues come every day. If you want to say something or want to know something, just tell us.The other thing is don't confide in anyone else, not Mason, not the sheriff, not at the jail, unless I give you permission.Do you understand? The most important thing is to stop crying, because whether you are innocent like an angel or vicious like a devil, the worst thing you can do is cry in front of someone else.People in general and these officers don't understand you and always take crying as a sign of weakness or a confession of guilt.I don't want others to have this idea, not to mention now that I know you didn't kill anyone.I believe this to be true.Remember, you must remain calm and calm in front of Mason and everyone else.

"Besides, I hope that from now on you will be able to laugh heartily, or at least greet other people with a smile. Have you ever heard of an old saying in the judicial world: If you are not guilty, you should be innocent. Then others will think you are innocent by looking at your expression. Don't always think about it alone, looking helpless. You have me, and my colleague Mr. Jefferson. I will take He comes, trust me as much as you trust him. In some ways he is better than me. Tomorrow I will bring you some newspapers and magazines, as well as pictures. I hope you can look at them. Don't worry about yourself. .”

Clyde nodded and forced a smile.

"Also, I don't know if you have religious beliefs, but the detention center always has church on Sunday. If they want you to attend, I hope you can attend regularly from now on. Everyone here is religious. I hope you can give They make a good impression. No matter what people say or think of you, don't ignore it, just do what I tell you. If Mason or anyone else makes it hard for you, you can write me a note.

"Okay, I have to go. Before I go out, I have a good laugh. When I came in. And don't talk nonsense, you know?"

Afterwards, he shook Clyde's shoulder, patted him on the back, and left.In fact, what he was thinking was: "Do I not believe that he is really as innocent as he said? Is it possible that he hit the girl, but denied that he did it on purpose? Later, he refused to save her, saying that he was afraid that she would swim to her." She sank beside her. Too bad! The jury wouldn't believe it! And the suitcase, the two hats, the missing dress! And he swore he didn't mean to hit her. But that one The whole insidious plan, the terrible motive, is still too bad legally. Did he tell the truth, or is he still lying? Perhaps, he is deluding himself? And the camera, we want to grab Get it before Mason, and the suit should be found, maybe as evidence. That way no one thinks it's hidden. I can say it's been there all along, but it's been sent to the dry cleaners. No, wait a little longer, let’s think about it before we talk.”

Belknap was figuring it out like this, thinking dejectedly, perhaps the best way is to put aside Clyde's statement, add more details and make up a story.The original one needs to be changed to make it feel less cruel and legally less vicious.

(End of this chapter)