h questions were to be allowed, he should put the
question whether Tobias had not endeavored to persuade Fidelis to
testify otherwise.

"Must I answer?" asked Fidelis.

The presiding judge replied that he need answer neither question.

The examination of witnesses was now closed, and a pause ensued, during
which there was a final arming of the forces upon both sides.

It had grown dark and candles were lighted in the court-room. They lit
up first the judge's desk, then the jury, then Landolin and his
counsel, and at last the spectators, of whom not one seemed to be
missing; indeed their numbers had apparently increased.

It was damp and sultry in the room. The battle began.

CHAPTER XXXI.

The counselor's eye-glass glistened and glittered, but his speech was
plain and quiet. He seemed studiously to avoid any approach to
vehemence. He began with a strong statement of the unruliness and
presumption which characterized the servants of the present day; and of
their frequent dishonesty in the present instance. The jury nodded
assent. He was sorry to say that the guilt of the accused was very
plain. The pretext of self-defense he materially weakened, by showing
carefully and clearly that the defendant had only hit upon the
subterfuge as a last resort, when he could find no other. It was more
than strange that the stone thrown by Landolin, which was bloody and
easy distinguishable from others, had so soon been made away with;
while the one said to have been thrown by Vetturi had been found, where
no doubt it had been placed for that very purpose.

At these words Landolin shook his head violently. The counselor paused
for a moment, then continued composedly, that, as only justice should
be done, he would recommend a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, with
mitigating circumstances.

When he had finished, Landolin leaned forward to speak to his lawyer,
who rose and proceeded with persuasive eloquence to set forth the
perfect innocence of the accused. When he depicted Landolin's
uprightness and influence, Landolin cast down his eyes. It made a
strong impression when the lawyer raising his voice cried: "Gentlemen
of jury! The accused was chosen as a juryman for this session of the
court. He should be sitting among you, and not here; and I expect from
your straightforward honesty he will soon be with you, shoulder to
shoulder; for he belongs with you. The one of you that feels himself