Lights were lit, a couple of lamps hanging from the ceiling—­a miserable light it was, the justice could hardly see to read his notes.  He mentioned with some severity the point that the child’s death had not been duly notified to the proper authorities—­but that, under the circumstances, should be considered rather the duty of the father than of the mother, owing to her weakness at the time.  The court had then to determine whether any case had been proved with regard to concealment of birth and infanticide.  Here the evidence was again recapitulated from beginning to end.  Then came the usual injunction as to being duly conscious of responsibility, which the court had heard before, and finally, the not uncommon reminder that in cases of doubt, the scale should be allowed to turn in favour of the accused.

And now all was clear and ready.

The judges left the room and went into another apartment.  They were to consider a paper with certain questions, which one of them had with him.  They were away five minutes, and returned with a “No” to all the questions.

No, the girl Barbro had not killed her child.

Then the presiding judge said a few more words, and declared that the girl Barbro was now free.

The court-house emptied, the comedy was over....

Someone takes Axel Stroem by the arm:  it is Geissler.  “H’m,” said he, “so you’re done with that now!”

“Ay,” said Axel.

“But they’ve wasted a lot of your time to no purpose.”

“Ay,” said Axel again.  But he was coming to himself again gradually, and after a moment he added:  “None the less, I’m glad it was no worse.”

“No worse?” said Geissler.  “I’d have liked to see them try!” He spoke with emphasis, and Axel fancied Geissler must have had something to do with the case himself; that he had intervened.  Heaven knows if, after all, it had not been Geissler himself that had led the whole proceedings and gained the result he wished.  It was a mystery, anyway.

So much at least Axel understood, that Geissler had been on his side all through.

“I’ve a deal to thank you for,” said he, offering his hand.

“What for?” asked Geissler.

“Why, for—­for all this.”

Geissler turned it off shortly.  “I’ve done nothing at all.  Didn’t trouble to do, anything—­’twasn’t worth while.”  But for all that, Geissler was not displeased, maybe, at being thanked; it was as if he had been waiting for it, and now it had come.  “I’ve no time to stand talking now,” he said.  “Going back tomorrow, are you?  Good.  Good-bye, then, and good luck to you.”  And Geissler strolled off across the street.

* * * * *

On the boat going home, Axel encountered the Lensmand and his wife, Barbro and the two girls called as witnesses.

“Well,” said Fru Heyerdahl, “aren’t you glad it turned out so well?”

Axel said, “Yes”; he was glad it had come out all right in the end.