The Secret Healer(25)
“Please no questions yet,” the sheriff warned. She sat there, ashen, her eyes torn open in shock.
Barbara swallowed hard. “A little while later, she pulled the baby out.”
“And did it live?”
“Yes, but not long. It was simply too small.”
The advocate peeked inconspicuously at the jury and the courtroom spectators. Many of their faces were pale as the gruesome images took shape in their minds. Her words horrified everyone. Von Balge fervently hoped that the sheriff’s examination would be completed as soon as possible so that he could start his examination and quickly disprove the maid’s testimony.
“What did the defendant do then?”
“She stayed and tried to comfort my mistress, but eventually she left us to deal with the dead infant ourselves.”
“And what did you do?”
“My mistress was ashamed to have lost yet another baby. She knew there was no way to bury the infant in consecrated ground. So, I walked to the forest to bury him. It was there that I was arrested.”
“When did your master become aware of these events?”
“When I was released from your custody.” She nodded at the sheriff. “I went directly home. Matthias Trauenstein sat on my mistress’s bed as they mourned their unbearable loss together.”
The courtroom was dead silent. The sheriff traded looks with the jury and exhaled audibly. “Now the court asks the advocate to begin his examination. I warn you to tell the truth.”
“You scared this girl to death,” Matthias Trauenstein commented indignantly.
“She’s scared all right,” Andreas von Balge immediately countered, “but that has nothing to do with the sheriff.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“You know exactly what I’m saying,” the advocate replied quietly but firmly. “Whether you want to admit it or not, even the most simpleminded in this courtroom knows exactly what you’ve done.”
“Oh, and what would that be?”
“Gentlemen! Let us restrict our line of questioning to one that will move the case forward. Mr. von Balge, conduct your examination.”
“Thank you.” Andreas took several deep breaths as he kept his gaze fixed on Matthias Trauenstein. He walked around the table until he stood a short distance away from Barbara.
“Would you prefer to leap up and run out of the courtroom right now?”
“What kind of a question is that?” Matthias snorted.
“Keep your peace.” The sheriff’s face turned an angry shade of crimson.
“Thank you.” Von Balge nodded. “I’m so sorry, maid, but it’s best that I’m completely frank with you from the onset: I don’t believe a word you’ve said.” He waved his hands and swept his arms toward the courtroom spectators. “And I can assure you, most of these fine citizens don’t, either.” He took a couple of steps and tapped his finger pensively against his lips.
Barbara could no longer hide her shivering shoulders, as she lowered her head and stared at the floor. Madlen could tell that her eyes were closed.
“Look at me, please.” Von Balge waited until she obeyed his command. “Do you find it difficult to make this statement here today?”
“Who wouldn’t find it difficult?” Trauenstein answered. The sheriff shot him a stern glance.
“The one point on which we agree,” von Balge taunted.
The spectators chuckled lightly.
“When you ran to Madlen’s house to pick her up, how long did that take?”
“I don’t know exactly.”
“Well, did she come with you willingly, or did she have concerns?”
Barbara looked over at Matthias Trauenstein uncertainly.
“Please keep your eyes on me,” von Balge demanded. “What did Madlen say when you asked her to help your mistress?”
“She hesitated at first.”
“My client hesitated. I see. What do you believe was the reason for that?”
“She said that she didn’t know whether she could help. She hadn’t worked in the field of midwifery as long as Clara.”
“Aha. She had doubts. But you were able to persuade her. How?”
“I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember? Did you not tell my client that your mistress would die if she didn’t help her?”
Barbara remained mute.
“Answer the question!” Andreas clapped his hands together and the maid winced; she looked at him in shock.
“Yes!”
“Yes, you said your mistress would die?”
Barbara pressed her lips together and whispered, “Yes, that’s what I said.”
Matthias Trauenstein hit the palm of his hand on the table. “He’s intimidating the witness by yelling at her like this.”