voke
a quarrel, which a sense of my inferiority as an antagonist rendered a
thing impossible to be thought of. Baffled in every way, I was said to
have rushed from the room, double-locking it on the outside, and hurried
down the stairs and out of the barrack; not to escape, however, but with
a purpose very different,--to return in a few moments accompanied by
three fellows, whom I passed with the guard as men wishing to recruit.
To ascend the stairs, unlock the door, and fall on the imprisoned
officer, was the work of an instant. His defence, although courageous
and resolute, was but brief. His sword being broken, he was felled by a
blow of a bludgeon, and thus believed dead. The ruffians ransacked his
pockets, and departed.

The same countersign which admitted, passed them out as they went; and
when morning broke the wounded man was found weltering in his blood,
but with life still remaining, and strength enough to recount what had
occurred. By a mere accident, it was stated, the French bank-note had
not been consigned to his pocket, but fell during the struggle, and was
discovered the next day on the floor.

These were the leading features of an accusation, which, however
improbable while thus briefly and boldly narrated, hung together with a
wonderful coherence in the speech of the lawyer, supported as they were
by the number of small circumstances corroboratory of certain immaterial
portions of the story. Thus, the political opinions I professed; the
doubtful--nay, equivocal--position I occupied; the intercourse with
France or Frenchmen, as proved by the _billet de banque_; my sudden
disappearance after the event, and my escape thither, where I continued
to live until, as it was alleged, I believed that years had eradicated
all trace of, if not my crime, myself,--such were the statements
displayed with all the specious inferences of habitual plausibility, and
to confirm which by evidence Sir Montague Crofts was called to give his
testimony.

There was a murmur of expectancy through the court as this well-known
individual's name was pronounced; and in a few moments the throng around
the inner bar opened, and a tall figure appeared upon the witness table.
The same instant that I caught sight of his features he had turned his
glance on me, and we stood for some seconds confronting each other.
Mutual defiance seemed the gage between us; and I saw, with a thrill
of savage pleasure, that after a minute or so his cheek