s counsel for the others--"and then think of who is likely to be
really guilty. These youths are just ordinary, ignorant, irresponsible
fellows, waiting to be led, but incapable of leading--without
education, and with no more than ordinary intelligence. But here is
this Stepaside, regarded as a leader among a certain class in the town,
an agitator, a dangerous man."

And so on, until at length his speech came to a close, and all felt
that, whatever might happen to the others, the jury would regard Paul
as the one who was responsible for what had taken place, and who, if
either of the three injured men should die, would be regarded as guilty
of not only outrage, but perhaps of manslaughter. Presently the judge
summed up the case, and then waited while the jury left their box to
consider their verdict.

By this time Paul was almost careless as to results. He felt perfectly
sure that the punishment meted out to him would not be a light one; but
he did not care. He was past that. His mind and heart were filled
with rage against the man who had blackened his name. He fell to
studying him while he waited, and again he was fascinated. While he
had addressed the jury his eyes had shone with apparently righteous
indignation; he was eager, almost passionate, in his denunciation of
crime. But now it might seem as though his interest in the matter had
gone. He chatted and laughed with the other barristers, and accepted
their congratulations upon his speech. As Paul listened, too, he heard
him accept an invitation to go with one of them to dinner that night,
and afterwards accompany them to a place of amusement. And this was
the man who had so ruthlessly, so cruelly, and so untruthfully defamed
his own character.

Presently the jurymen returned, and the court awaited their verdict. A
little later Paul knew that the others were committed to one month's
imprisonment, while he himself was condemned to six months' hard
labour. The young man's face never moved a muscle. He stood perfectly
rigid, perfectly silent, as the judge pronounced the sentence, and
then, when all was over, he turned towards the barristers' table, and
his eyes met those of the man who, he knew, was practically responsible
for the extreme punishment meted out to him. Mr. Bolitho smiled, and
then, turning, left the court, while a policeman laid hold of Paul's
arm and led him away to his cell.

CHAPTER IV

PAUL MEETS MARY BOLITHO

There is