the pardon, or be fined, or take a year in
Doomsdale, and escape the gallows. He's a cunning taistrel. He'll do
aught to save his life."

"You're wrong there; I cannot but say you're wrong there. I know the
man, and as I've told you there's nothing in the world he dare not do.
Why, would you credit it, I saw 'im one day--"

"Tut, haud yer tongue. Ye'd see him tremble one day if this sheriff of
yours were not flayt by his own shadow. Ye'd see him on Haribee; aye,
and maybe ye _will_ see him there yet, sheriff or no sheriff."

This was said with a bitterness indicative of fierce and deadly
hatred.

Shifting uneasily under the close gaze of his companion, the other
said,--

"What for do you look at me like that? I've no occasion to love him,
have I?"

"Nor I, nor I," said the first speaker, his face distorted with evil
passions; "and you shall spit on his grave yet, Master Scroope, that
you shall; and dance on it till it does yer soul good; you shall, you
shall, sheriff or none."

Just then a flourish of trumpets fell on the ear. Conversation was
interrupted while the men, with the bookseller, stepped to the door.
Numbers of townspeople were crowding into the Market Place.
Immediately afterwards there came at a swift pace through Scotch
Street a gayly bedecked carriage, with outriders in gold lace and a
trumpeter riding in front.

"The judges--going through to King's Arms Lane," observed the
bookseller.

"What o'clock do the 'sizes start, Mr. Pengelly?" asked a loiterer
outside.

"Ten in the morning, that's when the grand jury sit," the bookseller
answered.

CHAPTER XXXVIII. PEINE FORTE ET DURE.

The court was densely packed at ten next morning. Every yard of
available space was thronged with people. The crown court lay on the
west of the Town Hall. It was a large square chamber without
galleries. Rude oak, hewn with the axe straight from the tree, formed
the rafters and principals of the roofs. The windows were small, and
cast a feeble light. A long table like a block of granite, covered
with a faded green cloth and having huge carved legs, stood at one end
of the court, and stretched almost from side to side. On a dais over
this table sat the two judges in high-backed chairs, deeply carved and
black. There was a stout rail at one end of the table, and behind it
were steps leading to a chamber below. This was the bar, and an
officer of the court stood at one side of it. Exactly opposite it were