“Come along—­You can’t keep your veil on.  Try to be as non-committal as possible when they ask you crooked questions.  Of course I want justice done, and I hope I am a faithful servant of the law; but if you are as innocent as a flock of ring-doves, the lawyers will try to confuse you.”

He attempted to lead her, but she drew back.

“I will follow you; but please do not hold my arm; do not touch me.”

A moment later, a door opened and closed, a glare of light showed her a crowded room; a monotonous hum like the swell of the sea fell on her ear; then stifled ejaculations, to which succeeded a sudden, deathlike hush.  The officer placed a chair for her in front of the platform where the magistrate sat, and retired to the rear of the room.  With some difficulty Judge Dent made his way through the throng of spectators, and seated himself beside Mr. Dunbar.

“Well, sir, how did the prisoner impress you?” asked the latter, as he folded up a paper.

“Dunbar, you have made a mistake.  I have spent the best of my life in the study of criminals; and if that woman yonder is not innocent, I am in my dotage.”

“Pardon me, Judge, if I dispute both propositions.  I made no mistake; and you are merely, in the goodness of your heart, and the fervor of your chivalry, dazzled momentarily by the glamour of extraordinary beauty and touching youth.”

When Beryl recovered in some degree from the shock of finding herself actually on trial, she endeavored to collect her faculties; but the violent palpitation of her heart was almost suffocating, and in her ears the surging as of an ocean tide, drowned the accents of the magistrate.  At first the words were as meaningless as some Sanskrit formula, but gradually her attention grasped and comprehended.  In a strident incisive voice he read from a paper on the desk before him: 

“At an inquisition held at X—–­, T—–­county, on the twenty-seventh day of October, before me, Jeremiah Bateman, Coroner of said county, on the body of Robert Luke Darrington, there lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereto subscribed; the said jurors upon their oath do say that Robert Luke Darrington came to his death on the night of Thursday, October twenty-sixth, by a murderous assault committed upon him by means of a heavy brass andiron.  And from all the evidence brought before them, the jury believe that the fatal blow was feloniously given by the hand of his granddaughter, Beryl Brentano.

“In testimony whereof, the said jurors have hereunto set their hands, this twenty-seventh day of October, A.D., 18—.

“Signed------

“Attest,

“Jeremiah Bateman, Coroner.”

“In consequence of this verdict, and by virtue of a warrant issued at the request of the District Solicitor, Governor Glenbeigh made a prompt requisition for the arrest and detention of the said Beryl Brentano, who has been identified and returned to this city, to answer the charges brought against her.  The prisoner will unveil and stand up.