eral.

"It can scarcely be inferred that we feared it," said a junior
barrister, "since the first palpable evidences that implicated the
prisoner were discovered by Mr. Linton: the wadding of the pistol;
part of a letter in Mr. Cashel's own handwriting; and the tracks
corresponding with his boots."

"This is all most irregular, my Lord," broke in Jones, eagerly. "Here
are statements thrown out in all the loose carelessness of conversation,
totally unsupported by evidence. I submit that it is impossible to offer
a defence to a cause conducted in this manner."

"You are quite right, Mr. Jones; this is not evidence."

"But this is, my Lord!" said the Attorney-General, in a heated manner;
"and for motives of delicacy we might not have used it, if not driven
to this course by the insinuations of counsel. Here is a note in pencil,
dated from the 'Pass of Ennismore,' and running thus: 'It looks badly;
but I fear you have no other course than to arrest him. In fact, it is
too late for anything else. Consult Malone and Meek.' And this can be
proved to be in Mr. Linton's handwriting."

Mr. Clare Jones did not speak a word as the note was handed up to the
Bench, and then to the jury-box; he even affected to think it of no
importance, and did not deign to examine it for himself.

"You may go down, Mr. Goring," said he, after a slight pause, in which
he appeared deliberating what course to follow.

Making his way to the side of the dock, Jones addressed himself to
Cashel in a low, cautious voice:--

"It now remains with you, Mr. Cashel, to decide whether you will intrust
me with the facts on which you ground your innocence, or prefer to see
yourself overwhelmed by adverse testimony."

Cashel made no reply, but leaned his head on his hand in deep thought

"Have you any witnesses to call?" whispered Jones. "Shall we try an
_alibi?_"

Cashel did not answer.

"What is your defence, sir, in one word?" asked Jones, shortly.

"I am not guilty," said Cashel, slowly; "but I do not expect others to
believe me so."

"Is your defence to rest upon that bare assertion?" asked the lawyer;
but Roland did not seem to heed the question, as, folding his arms, he
stood erect in the dock, his attention to all appearance bestowed upon
the ceremonial of the court.

Jones, at once turning to the Bench, expressed his regret that, neither
being able, from the shortness of the time, to obtain proper information
on the case, nor being honore