he made an attempt to answer the attack on Lewis.

'Gentlemen,' he said, 'my learned friend has practically charged Mr.
Lewis with this murder. On what grounds has he done so? What evidence
has he brought against Mr. Lewis? Mr. Lewis is the heir of the
deceased, it is true, but then he is her nephew. When he came back
from Australia, he went at once to see her. He has told you, in answer
to my questions, that this was out of gratitude to her for her
kindness to him when he was a young man. There is nothing suspicious,
therefore, in his going to her before his sister, who lived in the
North of England, moreover, probably a long way off.

'Then my learned friend has laid stress on the fact that this crime
occurred the night of his arrival. But I submit, gentlemen, that it
would have been more natural if he had abstained from it the first
night, and done it some time after, if he did it at all. I might
suggest to you that the prisoner did it the night Mr. Lewis arrived
on purpose to throw suspicion on him.'

And so on. Finally he closed in a form of words which even the most
inexperienced prosecutor has by heart.

'In conclusion, gentlemen, I ask you to banish from your minds every
trace of prejudice, and to forget everything which you have read
elsewhere about this case, and to determine it solely on what has
passed here to-day. If the evidence you have heard leaves a fair and
reasonable doubt in your minds as to the prisoner's guilt, no doubt
you will acquit her; but if that evidence is so strong and convincing
that you are morally satisfied that the deceased woman met her death
at the prisoner's hands, then it is your duty to return a verdict of
guilty.'

With this he sat down, and his brother leant over and congratulated
him, while the other solicitors began to consider whether there might
not be something in the young man after all.

And now it was Sir Daniel Buller's turn, and all eyes were directed
upon him as he settled himself in his chair, with his face towards the
jury, who strove to catch his lordship's eye, and conveyed as much
appreciation as possible into their faces.

'Gentlemen of the jury, it now becomes my duty to recall your
attention to the facts of this case, and to give you what assistance I
can towards finding your verdict. You have been told by counsel on
both sides that this is a grave and important case. Gentlemen, every
case which comes before a criminal court is grave and important. In