_The
People's Banner_ should come to the gallows. Mr. Monk, as Phineas
himself well knew, had doubted. He had received the suspected
murderer into his warmest friendship, and was made miserable even
by his doubts. Since the circumstances of the case had come to his
knowledge, they had weighed upon his mind so as to sadden his whole
life. But he was a man who could not make his reason subordinate to
his feelings. If the evidence against his friend was strong enough
to send his friend for trial, how should he dare to discredit the
evidence because the man was his friend? He had visited Phineas in
prison, and Phineas had accused him of doubting. "You need not answer
me," the unhappy man had said, "but do not come unless you are able
to tell me from your heart that you are sure of my innocence. There
is no person living who could comfort me by such assurance as you
could do." Mr. Monk had thought about it very much, but he had not
repeated his visit.

At a quarter past ten the Chief Justice was on the bench, with a
second judge to help him, and with lords and distinguished commoners
and great City magnates crowding the long seat between him and the
doorway; the Court was full, so that you would say that another
head could not be made to appear; and Phineas Finn, the member
for Tankerville, was in the dock. Barrington Erle, who was there
to see,--as one of the great ones, of course,--told the Duchess
of Omnium that night that Phineas was thin and pale, and in many
respects an altered man,--but handsomer than ever.

"He bore himself well?" asked the Duchess.

"Very well,--very well indeed. We were there for six hours, and he
maintained the same demeanour throughout. He never spoke but once,
and that was when Chaffanbrass began his fight about the jury."

"What did he say?"

"He addressed the judge, interrupting Slope, who was arguing that
some man would make a very good juryman, and declared that it was not
by his wish that any objection was raised against any gentleman."

"What did the judge say?"

"Told him to abide by his counsel. The Chief Justice was very civil
to him,--indeed better than civil."

"We'll have him down to Matching, and make ever so much of him," said
the Duchess.

"Don't go too fast, Duchess, for he may have to hang poor Phineas
yet."

"Oh dear; I wish you wouldn't use that word. But what did he say?"

"He told Finn that as he had thought fit to employ counsel for his
defence,--in doing wh