“4.  The kidneys, liver and spleen (contained in a two-and-a-half-pound glass vial).

“5.  The entrails (contained in a five-pound earthen jar).”

As the reading of this report began the justiciary leaned over to one of his associates and whispered something, then to the other, and, receiving affirmative answers, interrupted the reading at this point.

“The Court finds the reading of the report superfluous,” he said.

The secretary closed reading and gathered up his papers, while the prosecutor angrily began to make notes.

“The gentlemen of the jury may now view the exhibits,” said the justiciary.

The foreman and some of the jury rose from their seats, and, holding their hands in awkward positions, approached the table and looked in turn on the ring, vials and jars.  The merchant even tried the ring on his finger.

“What a finger he had,” he said, returning to his seat.  “It must have been the size of a large cucumber,” he added, evidently amused by the giant figure of the merchant, as he imagined him.

CHAPTER XXI.

When the examination of the exhibits was over, the justiciary announced the investigation closed, and, desiring to end the session, gave the word to the prosecutor, in the hope that as he, too, was mortal, he might also wish to smoke or dine, and would have pity on the others.  But the prosecutor pitied neither himself nor them.  When the word was given him, he rose slowly, displaying his elegant figure, and, placing both hands on the desk, and slightly bending his head, he cast a glance around the court-room, his eyes avoiding the prisoners.

“Gentlemen of the jury, the case which is now to be submitted to your consideration,” he began his speech, prepared while the indictment and reports were being read, “is a characteristic crime, if I may so express myself.”

The speech of a prosecuting attorney, according to his idea, had to be invested with a social significance, according to the manner of those lawyers who became famous.  True, among his hearers were three women; a seamstress, a cook and Simon’s sister, also a driver, but that made no difference.  Those celebrities also began on a small scale.  The prosecutor made it a rule to view the situation from the eminence of his position, i. e., to penetrate into the profound psychological meaning of crime, and bare the ulcers of society.

“Here is before you, gentlemen of the jury, a crime characteristic, if I may so express myself, of the end of our century, bearing, as it were, all the specific features of the first symptoms of decomposition, to which those elements of our society, which are exposed, as it were, to the more scorching rays of that process, are subject.”