, withanairofconviction, , atpathos, , sonorousandsympathetic, "piercetheheartwithuntoldpower." HislanguagewasperhapsmoreirregularthanIppolitKirillovitch's, buthespokewithoutlongphrases, andindeed, : hekeptbendingforward, especiallyatthebeginningofhisspeech, notexactlybowing, butasthoughhewereabouttodartathislisteners, bendinghislongspineinhalf, asthoughtherewereaspringinthemiddlethatenabledhimtobendalmostatrightangles.
Atthebeginningofhisspeechhespokeratherdisconnectedly, withoutsystem, onemaysay, dealingwithfactsseparately, though, attheend, , thefirstconsistingofcriticisminrefutationofthecharge, , andevenhismanner, -outforit, andquiveredwithenthusiasm.
Hewentstraighttothepoint, andbeganbysayingthatalthoughhepracticedinPetersburg, hehadmorethanoncevisitedprovincialtownstodefendprisoners, ofwhoseinnocencehehadaconvictionoratleastapreconceivedidea."Thatiswhathashappenedtomeinthepresentcase," heexplained."FromtheveryfirstaccountsinthenewspapersIwasstruckbysomethingwhichstronglyprepossessedmeintheprisoner', butrarely, Ithink, , butIwilldosoattheverybeginning, foritismyweaknesstogotoworkdirectly, , butatleastit': thereisanoverwhelmingchainofevidenceagainsttheprisoner, andatthesametimenotonefactthatwillstandcriticism, , andIsuddenlyreceivedfromtheprisoner', , andtoshowthateachpieceofevidencetakenseparatelywasunprovedandfantastic, thatIundertookthecase."
SoFetyukovitchbegan.
