hat he was endeavoring throughout to
screen his landlord from the imputation of a well-merited guilt.

The cross-examination now opened, but without in any way serving to
shake the material character of the testimony, at the same time that it
placed in a still stronger light the attachment of the witness to the
prisoner. Cashel, hitherto inattentive and indifferent to all that was
going forward, became deeply interested as this examination proceeded;
his features, apathetic and heavy before, grew animated and eager, and
he leaned forward to hear the witness with every sign of anxiety.

The spectators who thronged the court attributed the prisoner's
eagerness to the important nature of the testimony, and the close
reference it bore to the manner of the crime; they little knew the
simple truth, that it was the semblance of affection for him,--the
pretended interest in his fate,--which touched his lonely heart, and
kindled there a love of life.

"That poor peasant, then," said Roland to himself, "he, at least, deems
me guiltless. I did not think that there lived one who cared as much for
me!"

[Illustration: 338]

With the apparent intention of showing to the Court and jury that Keane
was not biassed towards his former master, Mr. Jones addressed several
questions to him; but instead of eliciting the fact, they called forth
from the witness a burst of gratitude and love for him that actually
shook the building by the applause it excited, and called for the
interference of the Bench to repress.

"You may go down, sir," said Jones, with the fretful impatience of a man
worsted in a controversy; and the witness descended from the table amid
the scarcely suppressed plaudits of the crowd. As he passed the dock,
Cashel leaned forward and extended his hand towards him. The fellow drew
back, and they who were next him perceived that a sallow sickly color
spread itself over his face, and that his lips became bloodless.

"Give me your hand, man!" said Cashel.

"Oh, Mr. Cashel! oh, sir!" said he, with that whining affectation of
modesty the peasant can so easily assume.

"Give me your hand, I say," said Cashel, firmly. "Its honest grasp will
make me think better of the world than I have done for many a day."

The fellow made the effort, but with such signs of inward terror and
trepidation that he seemed like one ready to faint; and when his cold,
nerveless hand quitted Cashel's, it fell powerless to his side. He moved
now