In spite of her manifold exertions in his favour, in spite of all Rowland’s efforts, Howel positively refused to see either of them before the trial took place.  He declared to his mother, through his attorney, that if he saw her, she would take away some of that nerve and courage so necessary to establish his innocence; and to Rowland, he politely hinted that he did not wish to see him at all.

As the trial was almost immediate upon the imprisonment, they did not press the point.  Rowland and Mr and Mrs Jones, pitying Mrs Jenkins in her evident misery, would have had her remain amongst them, but she insisted on taking a lodging near the gaol, that she might, at least, be in her son’s neighbourhood, and hear from his attorney and others of his health daily.

He was always reported to be well, and in good spirits, and indeed was so, to all appearance.  He ate, drank, and slept much as if he had never committed crimes that at one period would have brought him to the gallows; and to the last moment of his leaving the prison for his trial, jauntily talked of what he should do when he was out of ’that confounded hole.’

It was with great difficulty that Rowland persuaded Mrs Jenkins to remain in her lodging during the time of the trial, which he attended himself, more on her account than his own; for he was so fully convinced of Howel’s guilt, that he knew he should only witness his degradation.

In the court he fell in with Captain Dancy, who told him that he had wished to say a good word for Howel on his wife’s account, for whom he entertained a great respect; but that Howel had positively refused any aid whatever from him.  He thought this strange, as he owed him a large sum of money, and he had not brought forward his claim.  Rowland thought it strange too, not knowing then, that Howel had one soft part in his hard nature, and that was love for Netta.

Howel bore the summing up of the judge and his severe reprimand with indifference.  He seemed slightly moved when the sentence was pronounced; but recovering perfect calmness, he said aloud, so that the whole court could hear,—­’If I am guilty, my prosecutors are guilty, and all the speculators in the world are guilty.’

When Rowland went to Mrs Jenkins’ lodging after all was over, he found Mrs Jones with her, her husband having been with him during the trial.  Mrs Jones had been endeavouring to prepare the poor mother for the probable sentence, but nothing could persuade her that ’her Howels, so clever, so genteel, who dined with the Queen and Prince Albert, and was handsomer than the Prince, for she had seen him,’ could be transported for forgery.

When Rowland told her the truth, as gently as he could, the effect it had upon her was quite different from what he had expected.  She burst into a passion, not of grief, but of rage.  She had been drinking brandy before Mrs Jones went to her, and had been greatly excited the whole morning, as she had also been on the previous day, the trial having lasted two days.  At the climax, the true nature of the woman showed itself, and the friends who surrounded her thought she was insane.