e result. As he was about
leaving, Landolin asked, drawing his hand over his eyes and forehead,

"Is the----Is his mother called as a witness?"

"The government counsel was willing to do without her. I was surprised,
but it was a good sign that he is not going to drive you to the wall. A
poor, bereaved old mother makes a bad impression on the jury. He is not
a bad man. He is, you know, a brother of your district judge's wife."

"That won't help me any."

"I think," continued the lawyer, "I think, the government counsel
himself will recommend to the jury to find that there were mitigating
circumstances."

"I will not have them find mitigating circumstances," cried Landolin,
his face reddening. "You may in my name, by my authority, refuse such a
verdict. I know what that means. It is easy for a jury to say guilty
when mitigating circumstances are tacked on; but when it's neck or
nothing, they think twice before they speak."

"Landolin, we are playing a serious game."

"I know it."

"Do you wish to address the jury yourself?"

"I don't know yet. I am afraid I should make some mistake."

"You can tell me your decision in the court-room. You have the
privilege of speaking."

"I never thought of it before. It's come to me since I have been in
prison. If I had my life to live over again, I'd like to be a lawyer."

The lawyer urged Landolin to try and sleep a little, for he had a hard
day before him, and must husband his strength. He would try to be fresh
and strong himself.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Landolin tried to sleep, but he soon sprang up again. A man may sleep
as much as he likes after he gets home, but now there is not a moment
to be lost. He rang the bell, and very submissively asked the keeper to
go for his son Peter, for he wanted to find out if the mother had come.

"What mother?"

"Oh pshaw! The mother of--of--of the poor fellow. Ask right out if
Cushion-Kate is here. And tell my son to give you twenty marks for the
saint's keeper."

"For the saint's keeper? Where is he?"

"Are you so stupid? Or are you only pretending? The saint's keeper is
inside of your coat."

The grim keeper chuckled, and said to himself:

"And just think of people saying that farmers are stupid."

He soon returned, and said that Vetturi's mother had not come, but--

"But what? Not my wife and daughter? I expressly forbade that."

"No, not they; but half the village."

"Did the saint