e with both hands. He seemed to
be weeping.

The judge handed the foreman of the jury the list of points for their
consideration. They all arose, and Landolin was led to the room set
apart for the accused. On the way out his son pressed his hand; they
could neither speak a word.

"Keeper," asked Peter, "can I go with my father?"

"Certainly."

"But I want to be alone," interrupted Landolin sharply, and the door
closed behind him.

"He would have let Thoma in, but he does not want me," said Peter to
himself; and as other evil thoughts linked themselves to this one, he
grated his teeth.

CHAPTER XXXII.

The court-room and the long corridor were filled with people, eagerly
discussing the expected verdict. Some thought it well-advised, others
thought it fool-hardy, that the accused and his lawyer had declined to
accept a verdict with "mitigating circumstances." They all agreed,
however, that Landolin's speech was a surprise, such as they would
probably never live to see again. There were some even who tried to set
a money value on it, and asserted that they wouldn't have missed
hearing the speech for such or such a sum. No one had dreamed that
Landolin was such an orator and actor.

During this time, Landolin stood at the open window of the prisoner's
room, grasping the iron grating with both hands. The keeper brought
wine. Landolin did not drink it, but he poured some on his hands, and
washed them with it; then turned again and started out into the starlit
night.

Although he felt the triumph that he had gained by his last words, his
knees were weary as if he had climbed over a high mountain, and now, as
it seemed to him, he was compelled to walk over a grave, yonder by his
home----

A meteor shot across the heavens. Ah! if one could only believe that
that is a good sign!

The prisoner's room, and that in which the jury was locked till they
should agree upon a verdict, were only separated by one thick wall.
Have they been there long, or only a short time? From the towers of the
city twelve o'clock was tolled. "Twelve strokes of the bell! The voices
of twelve men!" said Landolin to himself. Yonder, through the black
night, comes a monster with two red eyes, ever nearer and nearer.
Landolin knows very well that it is a locomotive, but nevertheless he
starts back from the window in terror, and sits down in a chair. Hark!
A bell rings. It is not outside; it is here. The jury