There was no occasion for delay; and, in gloomy and half-desponding mood, though still erect and unshrinking to the eye of the beholder, Ralph refused the privilege of a traverse, and instructed Pippin to go on with the case.  The lawyer himself had not the slightest objection to this procedure, for, not to be harsh in our estimate of his humanities, there is no reason to believe that he regarded for a single instant the value of his client’s life, but as its preservation was to confer credit upon his capacity as his legal friend and adviser.  The issue was consequently made up without delay—­the indictment was read—­the prisoner put himself upon God and the country, according to the usual forms, and the case proceeded.

The general impression of the spectators was decidedly in favor of the accused.  His youth—­the noble bearing—­the ease, the unobtrusive confidence—­the gentle expression, pliant and, though sad, yet entirely free from anything like desponding weakness—­all told in his favor.  He was a fine specimen of the southern gentleman—­the true nobleman of that region, whose pride of character is never ostentatiously displayed and is only to be felt in the influence which it invariably exercises over all with whom it may have contact or connection.  Though firm in every expression, and manly in every movement, there was nothing in the habit and appearance of Ralph, which, to the eye of those around, savored of the murderer.  There was nothing ruffianly or insincere.  But, as the testimony proceeded—­when the degree of intimacy was shown which had existed between himself and the murdered man—­when they heard that Forrester had brought him wounded and fainting to his home—­had attended him—­had offered even to fight for him with Rivers; when all these facts were developed, in connection with the sudden flight of the person so befriended—­on the same night with him who had befriended him—­he having a knowledge of the proposed departure of the latter-and with the finding of the bloody dagger marked with the youth’s initials—­the feeling of sympathy very perceptibly underwent a change.  The people, proverbially fickle, and, in the present instance justifiably so, veered round to the opposite extreme of opinion, and a confused buzz around, sometimes made sufficiently audible to all senses, indicated the unfavorable character of the change.  The witnesses were closely examined, and the story was complete and admirably coherent.  The presumptions, as they were coupled together, were conclusive; and, when it was found that not a solitary witness came forward even to say that the accused was a man of character and good connections—­a circumstance which could not materially affect the testimony as it stood, but which, wanting, gave it additional force—­the unhappy youth, himself, felt that all was over.