“If it so pleases the court, I would like to question the witness.” The sheriff nodded as Andreas walked over to the young man. “Tell me, Jasper, kind sir, were you talking with my client’s brother before you heard yelling outside?” He addressed the simple lad formally.
“Yes, my lord.”
“And what, sir, were you talking about?”
“Kilian said that his sister was at the Trauensteins’; he wanted to drink a beer with us while he waited for her.”
“He told everyone at the table that Madlen was at the Trauensteins’?”
“Yes, he did.”
“Hmm,” Andreas said. “That seems rather strange. The brother of the accused, whom he had accompanied to the house in which she wanted to commit murder. Her brother tells you about it, casually drinks a beer, and waits calmly until she’s ready to go?” He looked at the row of spectators. “Does that seem incredible only to me?”
“Are you trying to say that my witness is lying?” Matthias asked.
“No, not at all. I’m just saying the defendant’s brother acted the exact opposite of what would be expected under the circumstances. Doesn’t it seem that way to you, my good man?”
“Yes,” Jasper said tersely.
“The man who initially called out that a murder had just occurred. Did you ever see him?”
“No, my lord. Or maybe. I think I did.”
“Yes?”
“He was a very big man. Kilian told me he was one of Adelhaid Trauenstein’s guards, who had come to his cottage to bring Madlen and her brother back to the Trauensteins’.”
“A guard tried to convince the siblings to go to the Trauensteins’ home?”
Matthias snorted in disgust. “Just because this Kilian told him that doesn’t mean that’s what actually happened.”
“The witness is telling us about that evening. Not more, not less,” Andreas shot back, then turned back to Jasper. “Please continue. You said that Kilian had been waiting for his sister?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And Kilian explained to you why my client decided she had to go to Adelhaid Trauenstein’s house?”
“Allegedly said she had to go,” Matthias threw in.
“Would it please the court to instruct the prosecutor to refrain from interrupting my examination of his witness?” Andreas requested as he looked at the sheriff.
“Defense counsel is correct. Please hold your questions until it is your turn to speak.”
“Thank you.” Andreas nodded at the sheriff. “Now, where were we? Oh, yes, I had just asked you whether Kilian told you why my client had come to see Adelhaid Trauenstein.”
“Yes, he said that the guard had come on behalf of his mistress because she wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize for what?”
“For having put her through the trial; for the baby. Kilian told us that Adelhaid most likely hadn’t even been aware of it till that day.”
“Sheriff, you must allow me to intervene here,” Matthias demanded.
“Why, if I may ask?” The sheriff cocked his head to the side.
“Well, because these are all lies. Lies, lies, nothing but lies.”
“You’re accusing your own witness of lying?”
Matthias clenched his hands into fists. “The defendant was covered in my wife’s blood. There is nothing more to know.”
“Oh, I see!” Andreas looked at Matthias, then the sheriff, then each member of the jury. “So the nobleman Lord Trauenstein would like that.” His tone was mocking, derisive. “He wants witnesses to say what he wants and conceal what he wants concealed. And then my client can be convicted. Am I understanding this correctly?”
“Shut your trap, you pompous ass!” Matthias snapped.
“I beg your pardon,” the sheriff exclaimed indignantly. “What are you thinking? Do you really believe that this kind of behavior is acceptable in a court of law?”
“Yes, I do, Sheriff. And if you want to keep your position in the future, then you should be very nice to me.”
The spectators erupted, their voices abuzz as they whispered and murmured.
“Well, this is just getting better and better,” Johannes jumped in. “Without wanting to offend you, Sheriff, everyone here has heard the complainant not only try to influence the witness but, you, too, who must make the final verdict along with the members of the jury.”
“I agree. I’ve never come across such insolence before.”
Matthias Trauenstein muttered underneath his breath. At this moment, the church door opened and a guard hurried up the aisle, passing Andreas and the witness, and went directly to the sheriff, who leaned forward.