The Shadow of the Rope by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung
page 31 of 301 (10%)
page 31 of 301 (10%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
"We are."
"Do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty?" "Not guilty." There was a simultaneous gasp from a hundred throats--a distinct cry from some. Then the Clerk of Arraigns was seen to be leaning forward, a hand to his ear, for the foreman's voice had broken with excitement. And every soul in court leaned forward too. But this time his feelings had a different effect upon the excited foreman. "_Not_ guilty!" he almost bawled. Dead silence then, while the clock ticked thrice. "And that is the verdict of you all?" "Of every one of us!" The judge leant back in his place, his eyes upon the desk before him, without a movement or a gesture to strike the personal note which had been suppressed with such admirable impartiality throughout the trial. But it was several moments before his eyes were lifted with his voice. "Let her be discharged," was all he said even then; but he would seem to have said it at once gruffly, angrily, thankfully, disgustedly, with emotion, and without any emotion at all. You read the papers, and you |
|