; but, unfortunately, there was a thorn
in the rose of their wedded life: he was of the Church of
England; she was, and is, a Roman Catholic. This led to
disputes; and no wonder, since this same unhappy difference
hath more than once embroiled a nation, let alone a single
family.

"Well, gentlemen, about a year ago there was a more violent
quarrel than usual between the deceased and the prisoner at the
bar; and the deceased left his home for several months.

"He returned upon a certain day in this year, and a
reconciliation, real or apparent, took place. He left home
again soon afterwards, but only for a short period. On the 15th
of last October he suddenly returned for good, as he intended;
and here begins the tragedy, to which what I have hitherto
related was but the prologue.

"Scarce an hour before he came, one Thomas Leicester entered
the house. Now this Thomas Leicester was a creature of the
prisoner's. He had been her gamekeeper, and was now a pedler.
It was the prisoner who set him up as a pedler, and purchased
the wares to start him in his trade.

"Gentlemen, this pedler, as I shall prove, was concealed in the
house when the deceased arrived. One Caroline Ryder, who is the
prisoner's gentlewoman, was the person who first informed her
of Leicester's arrival, and it seems she was much moved: Mrs.
Ryder will tell you she fell into hysterics. But, soon after,
her husband's arrival was announced, and then the passion was
of a very different kind. So violent was her rage against this
unhappy man that, for once, she forgot all prudence, and
threatened his life before a witness. Yes, gentlemen, we shall
prove that this gentlewoman, who in appearance and manners
might grace a court, was so transported out of her usual self
that she held up a knife,--a knife, gentlemen,--and vowed to
put it into her husband's heart. And this was no mere temporary
ebullition of wrath. We shall see presently that, long after
she had had time to cool, she repeated this menace to the
unfortunate man's face. The first threat, however, was uttered
in her own bedroom, before her confidential servant, Caroline
Ryder aforesaid. But now the scene shifts. She has, to all
appearance, recovered herself, and sits smiling at the head of
her table; for, yo