his
that had been the master mind. It was he who was guilty of inciting
these ignorant, thoughtless youths to the act which had ended almost
fatally for three men. He dragged in the quarrel which Paul had had
with the son of Mr. Wilson, the owner of the mill, and insinuated that
it was a matter of personal revenge which had inspired him to commit
this outrage. In a few minutes it seemed to Paul that there was no
blacker criminal in England than himself. This man Bolitho had created
a new atmosphere in the court; his suave, almost smiling, features had
changed. When he was examining he pretended to be kind and assumed a
confidential and almost friendly manner. In this way he had wormed
statements out of men which Paul knew to be diametrically opposed to
the truth--he had even obtained the admission, from some of the youths
whom he had tried to dissuade from their deed of violence, that he,
Paul, had incited them rather than otherwise.

And now, in addressing the jury, this Mr. Bolitho had laid special
emphasis upon it. Paul was perfectly sure that the man did not believe
all he said, but he wanted to make a case, and he had fastened upon
himself as the chief culprit.

"Gentlemen," said Mr. Bolitho, "I wish you to pay special attention to
this man, young in years, apparently respectable, well educated,
especially for his class, and intelligent beyond the ordinary; but I
want to point out to you that he is of that class of which agitators
are made, and, as such, he is a danger to the community. In the eyes
of the law all these men are equally guilty, all of them were engaged
in this wild, lawless deed, which has ended almost fatally for three
men, two of them trustworthy officers of the law, and one a respected
townsman of Brunford, and a man holding a position of trust under his
employer. But think, gentlemen--these other youths were simply led by
this stronger personality of Paul Stepaside. He, inspired by personal
enmity towards Mr. Wilson, determined to be revenged on him for some
fancied wrong done to him years before, has taken the opportunity to
perpetrate this awful outrage. It is true he has not definitely said
so, but he has insinuated that he tried to dissuade the others from
taking part in this crime. But can such a thing be believed? The
others were never capable of this plot, and, without a leader, would
never have thought of participating in it. On several occasions, too,
since he has been in