Парфюмер. История одного убийцы

Chapter 48

           Theyweretheoneswhohadarrestedtheculprit,theoverwhelmingmajorityofthemurdershadbeencommittedintheareaundertheirjurisdiction,andiftheyhandedthemurdererovertoanothercourt,therewasthethreatofthepent-upangerofthecitizenry.HisbloodwouldhavetoflowinGrasse.OnApril15,1766,averdictwasrenderedandreadtotheaccusedinhiscell:“Thejourneymanperfumer,Jean-BaptisteGrenouille,”itstated,“shallwithinthenextforty-eighthoursbeledouttotheparadegroundbeforethecitygatesandtherebeboundtoawoodencross,hisfacetowardheaven,andwhilestillalivebedealttwelveblowswithanironrod,breakingthejointsofhisarms,legs,hips,andshoulders,andthen,stillboundtothecross,beraiseduptohanguntildeath.”Thecustomaryactofmercy,bywhichtheoffenderwasstrangledwithacordoncehisbodyhadbeencrushed,wasexpresslyforbiddentheexecutioner,eveniftheagoniesofdeathshouldtakedays.Thebodywastobeburiedbynightinanunmarkedgraveintheknacker’syard.Grenouillereceivedtheverdictwithoutemotion.Thebailiffaskedhimifhehadalastwish.“No,nothing,”Grenouillesaid;hehadeverythingheneeded.Apriestenteredthecelltohearhisconfession,butcameoutagainafterfifteenminuteswithnothingaccomplished.WhenhehadmentionedthenameofGod,thecondemnedmanhadlookedathimwithtotalincomprehension,asifhehadheardthenameforthefirsttime,hadthenstretchedoutonhisplankbedandsunkatonceintoadeepsleep.Tohavesaidanotherwordwouldhavebeenpointless.

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