aid Anton. Every one held his breath, and Landolin
clutched the railing of the bench with both hands. Plainly and readily
Anton said that it was his conviction that Landolin had not intended to
kill Vetturi. Still, he could not say that he had seen the occurrence
distinctly. He had just stepped through the gate, holding his
betrothed's hand, and had no eyes for any one else.

He drew a long breath, and paused. The counsel for the defense asked
him if he did not remember what he had said to Landolin, on his return
from the unfortunate man's house. Anton replied that it was Landolin
who had spoken, not he.

With soldierly precision he answered each question, and ended by saying
that it could not be imagined that a man like Landolin, that a father,
would willingly kill a man on the day of his daughter's betrothal.

Without looking toward Landolin, Anton returned to his seat, and when
there, he did not look up. His eyes glistened, and his face burned.

When Tobias was called, he came forward with long strides, bowed to the
judge, to the jury, and most deeply to his master. He then said, with
the utmost assurance in his manner, that he would not have believed
that the good-for-nothing Vetturi, who was too lazy to lift a sheaf of
grain, could have been able to throw such a stone; but as good luck
would have it, the stone had fallen just at his master's feet.
Otherwise Vetturi would have been sitting in the prisoner's dock, and
his master lying in the grave.

The government counselor tried to drive Tobias into a corner with
questions, but he seemed prepared for everything, and gave smiling
answers; and at last, even said pertly, that he, who had been there and
seen it all, must know what happened better than the counselor.

Fidelis was then called. Some discussion arose as to whether he could
be sworn; as he had been Landolin's servant at the time of the
occurrence.

Landolin made a good impression by saying that Fidelis was a good
fellow, and would say nothing against him out of spite.

At these words of his master, Fidelis seemed disconcerted for a moment,
but he soon gave his testimony, briefly and succinctly; that Vetturi
had not bent over and picked up a stone, but that his master had thrown
one, and that it had seemed to him that it would hit his own head.

The counsel for the defense inquired if any one had spoken to the
witness regarding what he had seen. Whereupon the government counsel
rejoined that, if suc