d, and----"

"And as you could not hurt the dead, you saw no harm in calling an
unconvicted man a murderer. I see!" There was a vein of satirical
reproach beneath the polished manner of saying these words, which
stung the old lawyer, and restored him at once to his wonted
craftiness.

"Perhaps you are right, Doctor, and I ought not to have used the words
about you, dead or alive. Of course, in this office the prisoner is
only the accused. Never more than that, even in our thoughts. That is
an imperative injunction which I place upon all of my assistants. You
see, gentlemen," he addressed them all collectively, with the purpose
of bringing the Doctor to the conclusion that he was not specially
thinking of him. Thus he prepared to spring a trap. "You see, the
District Attorney is a prosecuting officer, but he should never
persecute. It is his duty to represent and guard the liberties of the
whole community. He should be as jealous of the rights of the accused,
as of the accuser. More so, perhaps, for the prisoner stands to an
extent alone, whilst the whole commonwealth is against him. And so,
Dr. Medjora, if you are an innocent man, as you seem to be, it would
be my most pleasing duty to free you from the stigma cast upon you.
And should you come to trial, you must believe that the more forcible
my arguments may be against you, the more do I espouse your cause, for
the more thorough would be your acquittal if you obtained the
verdict." Then having, as he thought, led his man away from his
defence, he asked quickly, "But tell me, why have you not surrendered
before?"

If he hoped to see the Doctor stammer and splutter, seeking for some
plausible explanation, he was doomed to disappointment. Dr. Medjora
replied at once, ignoring a signal from Mr. Bliss not to speak.

"Mr. District Attorney, I will reply most candidly. Whilst, as you
have just said, it is your duty to guard the interests of the accused
as well as of the commonwealth, I regret to be compelled to say that
such is not your reputation. People say, and I see now that they must
be wrong,"--the Doctor bowed and smiled most politely,--"but they do
say that with you it is conviction at any cost. Thus even an innocent
man might well hesitate to withstand the attacks of so eminent and
skilful a jurist as yourself. Circumstantial evidence, whilst most
reliable when thoroughly comprehended, may sometimes entrap the
guiltless. So whilst my blood boiled in anger at th