stand committed until this sentence is complied with."

Cowperwood's father, on hearing this, bowed his head to hide his tears.
Aileen bit her lower lip and clenched her hands to keep down her rage
and disappointment and tears. Four years and three months! That would
make a terrible gap in his life and hers. Still, she could wait. It was
better than eight or ten years, as she had feared it might be. Perhaps
now, once this was really over and he was in prison, the Governor would
pardon him.

The judge now moved to pick up the papers in connection with Stener's
case, satisfied that he had given the financiers no chance to say he had
not given due heed to their plea in Cowperwood's behalf and yet certain
that the politicians would be pleased that he had so nearly given
Cowperwood the maximum while appearing to have heeded the pleas for
mercy. Cowperwood saw through the trick at once, but it did not disturb
him. It struck him as rather weak and contemptible. A bailiff came
forward and started to hurry him away.

"Allow the prisoner to remain for a moment," called the judge.

The name, of George W. Stener had been called by the clerk and
Cowperwood did not quite understand why he was being detained, but he
soon learned. It was that he might hear the opinion of the court in
connection with his copartner in crime. The latter's record was taken.
Roger O'Mara, the Irish political lawyer who had been his counsel all
through his troubles, stood near him, but had nothing to say beyond
asking the judge to consider Stener's previously honorable career.

"George W. Stener," said his honor, while the audience, including
Cowperwood, listened attentively. "The motion for a new trial as well as
an arrest of judgment in your case having been overruled, it remains
for the court to impose such sentence as the nature of your offense
requires. I do not desire to add to the pain of your position by any
extended remarks of my own; but I cannot let the occasion pass without
expressing my emphatic condemnation of your offense. The misapplication
of public money has become the great crime of the age. If not promptly
and firmly checked, it will ultimately destroy our institutions. When
a republic becomes honeycombed with corruption its vitality is gone. It
must crumble upon the first pressure.

"In my opinion, the public is much to blame for your offense and others
of a similar character. Heretofore, official fraud has been regarded
with too m