tion.

This was on a Tuesday, the fifth day of the trial, and upon the
whole perhaps the most interesting. A long array of distinguished
persons,--of women as well as men,--was brought up to give to the
jury their opinion as to the character of Mr. Finn. Mr. Low was the
first, who having been his tutor when he was studying at the bar,
knew him longer than any other Londoner. Then came his countryman
Laurence Fitzgibbon, and Barrington Erle, and others of his own party
who had been intimate with him. And men, too, from the opposite side
of the House were brought up, Sir Orlando Drought among the number,
all of whom said that they had known the prisoner well, and from
their knowledge would have considered it impossible that he should
have become a murderer. The two last called were Lord Cantrip and Mr.
Monk, one of whom was, and the other had been, a Cabinet Minister.
But before them came Lady Cantrip,--and Lady Chiltern, whom we once
knew as Violet Effingham, whom this very prisoner had in early days
fondly hoped to make his wife, who was still young and beautiful, and
who had never before entered a public Court.

There had of course been much question as to the witnesses to be
selected. The Duchess of Omnium had been anxious to be one, but the
Duke had forbidden it, telling his wife that she really did not know
the man, and that she was carried away by a foolish enthusiasm. Lady
Cantrip when asked had at once consented. She had known Phineas Finn
when he had served under her husband, and had liked him much. Then
what other woman's tongue should be brought to speak of the man's
softness and tender bearing! It was out of the question that Lady
Laura Kennedy should appear. She did not even propose it when her
brother with unnecessary sternness told her it could not be so. Then
his wife looked at him. "You shall go," said Lord Chiltern, "if you
feel equal to it. It seems to be nonsense, but they say that it is
important."

"I will go," said Violet, with her eyes full of tears. Afterwards
when her sister-in-law besought her to be generous in her testimony,
she only smiled as she assented. Could generosity go beyond hers?

Lord Chiltern preceded his wife. "I have," he said, "known Mr. Finn
well, and have loved him dearly. I have eaten with him and drank with
him, have ridden with him, have lived with him, and have quarrelled
with him; and I know him as I do my own right hand." Then he
stretched forth his arm with the pal