the evidence against Aram; the minor points
we have omitted, and also such as, like that of Aram's hostess, would
merely have repeated what the reader knew before.

And now closed the criminatory evidence--and now the prisoner was asked,
in that peculiarly thrilling and awful question--What he had to say
in his own behalf? Till now, Aram had not changed his posture or his
countenance--his dark and piercing eye had for one instant fixed on each
witness that appeared against him, and then dropped its gaze upon the
ground. But at this moment a faint hectic flushed his cheek, and he
seemed to gather and knit himself up for defence. He glanced round the
court, as if to see what had been the impression created against him.
His eye rested on the grey locks of Rowland Lester, who, looking down,
had covered his face with his hands. But beside that venerable form was
the still and marble face of Madeline; and even at that distance
from him, Aram perceived how intent was the hush and suspense of her
emotions. But when she caught his eye--that eye which even at such
a moment beamed unutterable love, pity, regret for her--a wild, a
convulsive smile of encouragement, of anticipated triumph, broke the
repose of her colourless features, and suddenly dying away, left her
lips apart, in that expression which the great masters of old, faithful
to Nature, give alike to the struggle of hope and the pause of terror.

"My Lord," began Aram, in that remarkable defence still extant, and
still considered as wholly unequalled from the lips of one defending his
own, and such a, cause;--"My Lord, I know not whether it is of right, or
through some indulgence of your Lordship, that I am allowed the liberty
at this bar, and at this time, to attempt a defence; incapable and
uninstructed as I am to speak. Since, while I see so many eyes upon me,
so numerous and awful a concourse, fixed with attention, and filled with
I know not what expectancy, I labour, not with guilt, my Lord, but
with perplexity. For, having never seen a court but this, being wholly
unacquainted with law, the customs of the bar, and all judiciary
proceedings, I fear I shall be so little capable of speaking with
propriety, that it might reasonably be expected to exceed my hope,
should I be able to speak at all.

"I have heard, my Lord, the indictment read, wherein I find myself
charged with the highest of human crimes. You will grant me then
your patience, if I, single and unskilfu