And then, taunted and goaded to exasperation, the wronged woman burst
into tears and flayed the bigamist Ames there before the court room
crowded with eager society ladies and curious, non-toiling men. Flayed
him as men are seldom flayed and excoriated by the women they trample.
The bailiffs seized her, and dragged her into an ante-room; the judge
broke his gavel rapping for order, and threatened to clear the court;
and then Cass, too young and inexperienced to avoid battle with
seasoned warriors, rose and demanded that Madam Beaubien be returned
to the stand.

The astonished judge hesitated. Cass stood his ground. He turned to
the people, as if seeking their support. A great murmur arose through
the court room. The judge looked down at Ames. That man, sitting calm
and unimpassioned, nodded his head slightly. And the woman was led
back to the chair.

"It may have an important bearing upon the case, Your Honor!" cried
the young lawyer for the defense. "Mr. Ames is to take the stand as an
important witness in this case. If Madam Beaubien brings such a charge
against him, it gives us reason to believe his honor peccable, and his
testimony open to suspicion!"

It was a daring statement, and the whole room gasped, and held its
breath.

"I object, Your Honor!" shouted the chief prosecutor, Ellis. "The
lawyer for the defense is in contempt of court! Madam Beaubien has
been shown to be a--"

"The objection is sustained!" called the judge. "The charge is utterly
irrelevant! Order in the court!"

_"His first wife's portrait--is in a glass window--in his yacht!"_
cried the hysterical Beaubien. Then she crumpled up in a limp mass,
and was led from the chair half fainting.

At the woman's shrill words a white-haired man, dressed in black,
clerical garb, who had been sitting in the rear of the room close to
the door, rose hastily, then slowly sat down again. At his feet
reposed a satchel, bearing several foreign labels. Evidently he had
but just arrived from distant lands.

Consternation reigned throughout the room for a few minutes. Then
Cass, believing that the psychological moment had arrived, loudly
called Carmen Ariza to the stand. The dramatic play must be continued,
now that it had begun. The battle which had raged back and forth for
long, weary days, could be won, if at all, only by playing upon the
emotions of the jury, for the evidence thus far given had resulted in
showing not only the defense, but likewise t