Set in turn-of-the-century France, this gripping novel tells the story of a young lawyer who takes on a case that threatens to upend the established order. As the wildly charismatic defendant draws him deeper and deeper into a world of political scheming and social upheaval, the lawyer must grapple with questions of morality and justice that go to the heart of the French republic. A tour de force of historical fiction, this novel is not to be missed. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.