, but she could read nothing of Wiley's opinion in his
expression. He rose more leisurely, more conversational in manner. The
defense would show, he said--and his tone seemed to add "without the
least difficulty"--that the motorcycle of the unfortunate young
policeman had skidded and struck the automobile of the defendant,
causing, to the deep chagrin of the defendant, the death of that gallant
young hero. They would show that the defendant was not committing a
misdemeanor at the time, for to attain a speed of twenty-five or thirty
miles on a lonely road was not even violating the speed law, as everyone
who owned a car knew very well. As for the indictment of manslaughter in
the first degree, really--Wiley's manner seemed to say that he knew a
joke was a joke, and that he had as much sense of humor as most men, but
when it came to manslaughter in the first degree--"a crime, gentlemen,
for which a prison sentence of twenty years may be imposed--twenty
years, gentlemen." He had never in a long experience at the bar heard of
a bill being found at once so spectacular and so completely at variance
with the law. The defense would show them that if they followed the
recommendation of his learned young friend, the district attorney, to
consider the facts and the law----

His manner to O'Bannon was more paternal than patronizing. He seemed to
sketch him as an eager, emotional boy intoxicated by headlines in the
New York papers. Wiley radiated wisdom, pity for his client, grief for
the loss of Drummond and an encouraging hope that a young man like
O'Bannon would learn enough in the course of a few years to prevent his
making a humiliating sort of mistake like this again. He did not say a
word of this, but Lydia could see the atmosphere of his speech seeping
into the jurors' minds.

Yes, she thought, it was an able opening--not the sort of ability that
she would have connected with legal talent in the days when she knew
less of the law; but it seemed to be the kind of magic that worked. She
was pleased with her counsel, directed a flattering look at him and
began to assume the air he wanted her to assume--the dovelike.

The prosecution began at once to call their witnesses--first the doctors
and nurses from the hospital, establishing the cause of death. Then the
exact time was established by the clock on the motorcycle--3:12,
confirmed by the testimony of many witnesses. Then the ante-mortem
statement was put in evidence. A long