[68] The story is told on the authority of Madame Charpentier, wife of the publisher, but it is somewhat doubtful whether the lady in question was herself, though she and her husband knew M. Lockroy as well as Zola. If not, the intermediary may have been a lady related to a minister whose energy made him famous during the siege of Paris. There was such a lady who knew Zola well. English and American readers will doubtless regard the whole affair as being "very French." IX THE BRITISH PHARISEES 1884-1893 First English translations of Zola--Attacks on Zola in England--The Vizetellys, glassmakers and printers--Henry Vizetelly and his career--His publishing business--The six-shilling novel--Ernest Vizetelly's work for Vizetelly & Co.--His acquaintance with Zola--His opinion of the Zola translations--He becomes reader and editor to Vizetelly & Co.--He partially expurgates the English version of "La Terre"--W. T. Stead solicits information from Vizetelly--The sales of the Zola translations--The "National Vigilants"--"The Maiden Tribute"--Publicity _v._ Secrecy--Zola's aim--Mendacity of some English newspapers--Vizetelly's catalogue--Samuel Smith, M. P., and "pernicious literature"--A debate in the House of Commons--More newspaper lies--Vizetelly committed for trial--"The Decameron" prosecuted--The Government takes up the Vizetelly prosecution--Vizetelly's letter to Sir A. K. Stephenson--"Heaven save us from our friends!"--Vizetelly's difficulties--His trial, October, 1888--Purity of the rural districts of England--The case stopped--Sentence--Vizetelly's undertaking respecting the Zola books--Zola's view of the case--Expurgation and reissue of the translations--Vizetelly again summoned--He assigns his property to his creditors--Mr. George Moore on the "National Vigilants"--Mr. Frank Harris's offer--Ernest Vizetelly and the responsibility of the new trial--Mr. Cock, Q. C.--His notion of duty to a client--The trial, May 30, 1889--The plea of "guilty"--Vizetelly's collapse--Sir E. Clarke and Ernest Vizetelly--Sentence on Henry Vizetelly--He is sent to the wrong prison--The legerdemain of the Prison Commissioners--A question for the House of Commons--A letter from Mr. Labouchere--A memorial for Henry Vizetelly's release--Robert Buchanan defends him--His last years and death.