"Between ourselves, I think the magistrate will commit them for trial."

"On the charge of murder?"

"Yes, on the charge of murder."

CHAPTER VIII. THE CONFESSION.

MY replies to the lawyer accurately expressed the conviction in my
mind. The narrative related by Ambrose had all the appearance, in my
eyes, of a fabricated story, got up, and clumsily got up, to pervert
the plain meaning of the circumstantial evidence produced by the
prosecution. I reached this conclusion reluctantly and regretfully, for
Naomi's sake. I said all I could say to shake the absolute confidence
which she felt in the discharge of the prisoners at the next
examination.

The day of the adjourned inquiry arrived.

Naomi and I again attended the court together. Mr. Meadowcroft was
unable, on this occasion, to leave the house. His daughter was present,
walking to the court by herself, and occupying a seat by herself.

On his second appearance at the "bar," Silas was more composed, and
more like his brother. No new witnesses were called by the prosecution.
We began the battle over the medical evidence relating to the charred
bones; and, to some extent, we won the victory. In other words, we
forced the doctors to acknowledge that they differed widely in their
opinions. Three confessed that they were not certain. Two went still
further, and declared that the bones were the bones of an animal, not
of a man. We made the most of this; and then we entered upon the
defense, founded on Ambrose Meadowcroft's story.

Necessarily, no witnesses could be called on our side. Whether this
circumstance discouraged him, or whether he privately shared my opinion
of his client's statement, I cannot say. It is only certain that the
lawyer spoke mechanically, doing his best, no doubt, but doing it
without genuine conviction or earnestness on his own part. Naomi cast
an anxious glance at me as he sat down. The girl's hand, as I took it,
turned cold in mine. She saw plain signs of the failure of the defense
in the look and manner of the counsel for the prosecution; but she
waited resolutely until the presiding magistrate announced his
decision. I had only too clearly foreseen what he would feel it to be
his duty to do. Naomi's head dropped on my shoulder as he said the
terrible words which committed Ambrose and Silas Meadowcroft to take
their trial on the charge of murder.

I led her out of the court into the air. As I passed the "bar," I saw
Ambrose, deadly p