ctim's death, and then rushed away and uttered
the words which the man Ashley overhead. This is all I can say on
these points, gentlemen, and you have to consider, in the light of the
evidence to which you have listened, whether this might be the case.
As has been repeatedly said, the whole case rests upon circumstantial
evidence, and it is for you carefully to consider the matter again, and
may Almighty God guide you in your momentous deliberations!"

Again it was evident that the judge tried to be fair, but again his
elucidation of the points at issue was deadly, as far as the prisoner
was concerned. Rightly or wrongly, more than one felt that the judge
had made up his mind as to the guilt of Paul Stepaside, and speaking as
he did, in cold, calculated words, yet with all the authority of his
position behind him, many felt that each sentence strengthened the
chain of evidence which would hang the prisoner.

Paul listened without moving a muscle or uttering a sound, nevertheless
his eyes were fixed upon the judge with a kind of stony stare. It
seemed to him that there was a kind of malignant cunning in the judge's
words, that the man was conjuring up possibilities in support of the
evidence which seemed to point to him.

Again the jury retired, and a solemn silence reigned. This time there
was not even the sound of whispered consultations as to what the
verdict might be. It was a kind of ghastly waiting for the jurymen to
return. Slowly the clock ticked on, and it seemed to be numbering the
seconds of Paul Stepaside's life. And yet there were many who simply
could not believe that any jury could find him guilty. Standing there
alone in the dock, tall, erect, calm, his features refined by the long
weeks of suffering through which he had passed, thin and pale as a
consequence of his confinement and anxiety, many felt that it was
impossible he should be guilty of such a bloodthirsty deed. And yet in
face of the judge's summing up, in face of the terrible speech which
Mr. Bakewell had delivered, it seemed as if the gallows would surely
claim their victim.

Minute after minute passed, until the waiting seemed unbearable. At
length, however, the door of the room in which the jury sat opened, and
one by one they returned. With strained eyes, all looked at their
faces, trying to read there what their decision was. It seemed almost
grotesque that these twelve, commonplace, unimaginative men, with no
ability out o