ABSTRACT
Pierre Laval's voice was stilled by the execution of the judgment imposed upon him. Laval was treated correctly by the prison staff, never molested in deed or word. From the director to the lowliest sweeper, Laval was always addressed and referred to as M. le President or M. Laval. His regular visits to the prison were also a boon to Laval, not only in advancing defence preparations but also in offering to Laval, alone in his cell, the human contact he craved. In the course of these visits, Laval talked freely on a wide variety of topics: his life, his fortune, his political convictions and sentiments, why and how he collaborated with the Germans, some of his public utterances and other topics that had been the subject of testimony during the course of the trial. His sole diversion was a half-hour walk in the courtyard.
