remarks concerning the probability of his
knowing where the deceased was at the time of the murder. As he has
stated, he would probably have been in bed at the time when he was
actually killed. If the murder was premeditated, there are some who
feel the utter unlikelihood of the prisoner going out alone at midnight
on the chance of finding his victim.

"These are the points, my lord, on which we are not agreed, and unless
further light is thrown upon them, there is no likelihood of agreement."

The juryman spoke in a hesitating fashion. He was evidently labouring
under a very strong emotion, and was unable to control his voice or to
express his thoughts with anything like clearness. Still, what we have
just stated conveys a rough idea of the difficulties which faced them.

Again an intense silence pervaded the court as the foreman of the jury
sat down. The suspense seemed almost too horrible to be borne. There
was not a man in the court who was not pale to the lips, and whose
nerves were not quivering with painful excitement. Again the reporters
almost forgot their duty. In their eagerness to know what would be
said they forgot to write. Suppressed sobbing was heard almost
everywhere. Even the judge looked exceedingly grave, and for the
moment seemed unable to decide what to say.

As for Paul, it seemed to him as though his fate hung on a delicately
poised balance. The weight of a hair in either scale might decide
either his life or his death. It was one of those tragic moments which
seldom occur in any man's life, and it was only by a tremendous effort
that he remained outwardly calm. But pride came to his aid even now.
He had not shown weakness yet, and he would not show it now. He would
not break down before this gaping, excited crowd, but retain quiet
dignity even to the last. In spite of the intense excitement, too, he
was becoming almost callous. Nature has its own way of alleviating
pain, and the way she chose now to help Paul to continue to bear the
dreadful strain was to numb his feelings, and to make him almost
indifferent concerning what should take place. For the past few hours
every nerve had been at full tension, and so greatly had he been
wrought upon that he could not have remained in such a condition much
longer. And so kindly Nature had lessened the pangs he was suffering,
and made him able to bear to the end by her own anaesthetics.

"I quite understand your position, gentlemen,