"
"And, upon your oath, you did not know of it before then?"
"I did not."
"Nor suspect it even, perhaps?"
"Nor even suspect it."
Mr. Balais smiled, shrugged his shoulders. His principles of oratory
were Demosthenean; his motto was "Action, action, action." His. friends
on circuit called him the Balais of action. He had had some experience
of the depravity of human nature, said the shrug, but this beat every
thing, and would be really amusing but for its atrocious infamy. Good
Heavens!
"Then you never had any conversation with the prisoner with reference
to your daughter at all?"
"Never."
Mr. Balais bent down and interchanged a word or two with Mr. Weasel
behind him.
"Now be so good as to give me your best attention, Mr. Trevethick, for
upon my next question more may depend than you may be aware of. If you
have any regard for your own interests you will answer it truly; for as
sure as--"
"Is this necessary, Brother Balais?" interrupted the judge, scratching
his forehead with his forefinger, and looking up at the sky-light, as
though that matter was not satisfactorily settled even yet.
"My lud, I am instructed that nothing less than a conspiracy has been
entered into against my unfortunate client."
The judge nodded slightly, shivered considerably, and made a mental note
to complain of that infernal draught before he should dismiss the grand
jury.
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