ible to excite in the beholders any emotion lighter than pity.

The Judge looked at Mr. Cavendish who was talking angrily with his
client. After waiting for a minute or two, he said: "Unless the original
of this book be produced, the Court will be obliged to admit the copy.
It was made by one who had it in custody from the owner's hands."

"I was not aware," said Mr. Cavendish fiercely, "that a crushing
conspiracy like this against my client could be carried on in any court
of the United States, under judicial sanction."

"The counsel must permit the Court," said the Judge calmly, "to remind
him that it is so far generous toward his disappointment and discourtesy
as to refrain from punishing him for contempt, and to warn him against
any repetition of his offense."

Mr. Cavendish sneered in the face of the Judge, but held his tongue,
while Mr. Balfour presented and read the contents of the document. All
of Mr. Belcher's property at Sevenoaks, his rifle manufactory, the goods
in Talbot's hands, and sundry stocks and bonds came into the
enumeration, with the enormous foreign deposit, which constituted the
General's "anchor to windward." It was a handsome showing. Judge, jury
and spectators were startled by it, and were helped to understand,
better than they had previously done, the magnitude of the stake for
which the defendant had played his desperate game, and the stupendous
power of the temptation before which he had been led to sacrifice both
his honor and his safety.

Mr. Cavendish went over to Mr. Balfour, and they held a long
conversation, _sotto voce_. Then Mrs. Dillingham was informed that she
could step down, as she would not be wanted for cross-examination. Mr.
Belcher had so persistently lied to his counsel, and his case had become
so utterly hopeless, that even Cavendish practically gave it up.

Mr. Balfour then addressed the Court, and said that it had been agreed
between himself and Mr. Cavendish, in order to save the time of the
Court, that the case should be given to the jury by the Judge, without
presentation or argument of counsel.

The Judge occupied a few minutes in recounting the evidence, and
presenting the issue, and without leaving their seats the jury rendered
a verdict for the whole amount of damages claimed.

The bold, vain-glorious proprietor was a ruined man. The consciousness
of power had vanished. The law had grappled with him, shaken him once,
and dropped him. He had had a hint from