exempt from outbursts of anger which, against his will, might result in
an unhappy accident; the one that feels himself free from all natural
faults, let him throw the stone; the stony word, guilty. By the
authority of the accused, I refuse 'mitigating circumstances.' That is
merely disguising the deadly missile. I call for the verdict 'Not
guilty.'"

A murmur ran through the mass of spectators, so that the presiding
judge threatened to clear the court-room if such disturbance were heard
again. In the profound silence that followed he gathered up the pros
and cons, and laid them in the scales before the jury. When he had
finished he asked Landolin if he had anything to say.

Landolin arose and bowed. He moistened his dry lips, and began:

"Your honors! Gentlemen of the jury! I--I am guilty!" Again a murmur
ran through the room; but the judge did not repeat his warning. He was
himself too much astonished at the words; and even Landolin's lawyer
involuntarily threw up his arms in despair. The counselor's eye-glass
sparkled more brightly than before, and his face had a triumphant
expression. When silence was restored, Landolin continued:

"Yes, I am guilty. I deserve punishment, just punishment; but not for
that of which I stand here accused. I deserve punishment because I was
so soft-hearted and compassionate that I did not prosecute the
miserable fellow for his theft.

"Gentlemen of the jury! You twelve men! It is terribly hard that such
men as you should be taken from the harvest-field to sit here through a
long, hot day! And why? Because of a miserable servant-man, whose life
is not worth twelve hours' time, of twelve honorable men like you. I
will not speak of myself, of my having to stand here. I only say I
should not have been so tender-hearted. Through that I have become
guilty of making servants ungovernable. For that, I deserve punishment,
for nothing else. Should I have quietly allowed him to kill me? And is
it likely that I, who forebore so long with him, sought to kill him?
Was I likely to place my wife, and my children, my honor, my house, and
my lands in peril for such a one as he? I will not abuse him; he is
dead." Landolin's voice trembled. He seemed unable to continue. His
counsel whispered to him: "Don't stop there. Say again that you are
guilty." And Landolin cried again: "I am guilty in not having
prosecuted the thief. Of that I am guilty, of nothing more."

Landolin sat down, and covered his fac