“One clause of the will set aside a case of sapphire stones, with the direction that whenever Prince Darrington married, they should be worn by the lady as a bridal present from him.”

“Would you not deem it highly incompatible with all you know of the Gen’l’s relentless character, that said sapphires and money should have been given to the prisoner?”

“My surmises would be irrelevant and valueless to the Court; and facts, indisputable facts, are all that should be required of witnesses.”

“When and where did you next see the prisoner?”

Cold, crisp, carefully accentuated, his words fell like lead upon the ears of all present, whose sympathies were enlisted for the desolate woman; and as he stood, tall, graceful, with one hand thrust within his vest, the other resting easily on the back of the bench near him, his clear cut face so suggestive of metallic medallions, gave no more hint of the smouldering flame at his heart than the glittering ice crown of Eiriksjokull betrays the fierce lava tides beating beneath its frozen crust.

“At 10 o’clock on the same night, I saw the prisoner on the road leading from town to ‘Elm Bluff’, and not farther than half a mile from the cedar bridge spanning the ‘branch’, at the foot of the hill where the iron gate stands.”

“She was then going in the direction of ‘Elm Bluff?’”

“She was sitting on the ground, with her head leaning against a pine tree, but she rose as I approached.”

“As it was at night, is there a possibility of your having mistaken some one else for the prisoner?”

“None whatever.  She wore no hat, and the moon shone full on her face.”

“Did you not question her about her presence there, at such an hour?”

“I asked:  ‘Madam, you seem a stranger; have you lost your way?’ She answered, ‘No, sir.’  I added:  ’Pardon me, but having seen you at “Elm Bluff” this afternoon, I thought it possible you had missed the road.’  She made no reply, and I rode on to town.”

“She betrayed so much trepidation and embarrassment, that your suspicion was at once aroused?”

“She evinced neither trepidation nor embarrassment.  Her manner was haughty and repellent, as though designed to rebuke impertinence.  Next morning, when informed of the peculiar circumstances attending Gen’l Darrington’s death, I felt it incumbent upon me to communicate to the magistrate the facts which I have just narrated.”

“An overwhelming conviction of the prisoner’s guilt impelled you to demand her arrest?”

“Overwhelming conviction rarely results from merely circumstantial evidence, but a combination of accusing circumstances certainly pointed to the prisoner; and following their guidance, I am responsible for her arrest and detention for trial.  To the scrutiny of the Court I have submitted every fact that influenced my action, and the estimate of their value decided by the jurymen, must either confirm the cogency of my reasoning, or condemn my rash fallibility.  Having under oath conscientiously given all the evidence in my possession, that the prosecution would accept or desire, I now respectfully request, that unless the prisoner chooses to exercise her right of cross-examination, my colleagues of the prosecution, and his Honor, will grant me a final discharge as witness.”