blood flows clear and warm enough; the cheek looks firm too,
and passing full, for one who was always of the lean kine. Aha! this
letter is a cordial, an elixir vitro. I feel as if a new lease were
granted to the reluctant tenant. Lord Warlock, the first Baron of
Warlock, Lord Chief Baron,--what next?"

As he spoke, he strode unconsciously away, folding his arms with that
sort of joyous and complacent gesture which implies the idea of a man
hugging himself in a silent delight. Assuredly had the most skilful
physician then looked upon the ardent and all-lighted face, the firm
step, the elastic and muscular frame, the vigorous air of Brandon, as
he mentally continued his soliloquy, he would have predicted for him as
fair a grasp on longevity as the chances of mortal life will allow. He
was interrupted by the servant entering.

"It is twenty-five minutes after nine, sir," said he, respectfully.

"Sir,--sir!" repeated Brandon. "Ah, well! so late!"

"Yes, sir, and the sheriff's carriage is almost at the door."

"Humph! Minister,--Peer,--Warlock,--succession. My son, my son! would to
God that I could find thee!"

Such were Brandon's last thoughts as he left the room. It was with
great difficulty, so dense was the crowd, that the judge drove up to
the court. As the carriage slowly passed, the spectators pressed to
the windows of the vehicle, and stood on tiptoe to catch a view of
the celebrated lawyer. Brandon's face, never long indicative of his
feelings, had now settled into its usual gravity; and the severe
loftiness of his look chilled, while it satisfied, the curiosity of the
vulgar. It had been ordered that no person should be admitted until the
judge had taken his seat on the bench; and this order occasioned so much
delay, owing to the accumulated pressure of the vast and miscellaneous
group, that it was more than half an hour before the court was able to
obtain that decent order suiting the solemnity of the occasion. At five
minutes before ten a universal and indescribable movement announced that
the prisoner was put to the bar. We read in one of the journals of that
day, that "on being put to the bar, the prisoner looked round with a
long and anxious gaze, which at length settled on the judge, and then
dropped, while the prisoner was observed to change countenance slightly.
Lovett was dressed in a plain dark suit; he seemed to be about six feet
high; and though thin and worn, probably from the effect of his wound