Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-04

y - ANSe h1D0.J
Cold aDd pltilsss = sseel, without . tremor
and without pause, The voice repeated
all the words used BY The culprit when,
in his rash burst Of passjen, be had derid-
ed and Knocked the knowledge and the
power Of the Serenissima. Slowly and
regularly the words followed each other
Is the links OF . Heightened chain. as
steadily ~ the drops Of rain on winters
day. The pens Of the scribes, creaking
~ they hurried over tie paper, made aft
accompaniment TO this recital. Except
for them, al was a. motionless, as still as
If no human hearts were beating under
those black silk nantes. It ended at last;
and with sense Of relief Sir John strained
his senses to see. to hear what would fol-
low.
After short pause, the judge who sat
at the centre Of the table stood up and adj
dressed him in these terms: ''You have
heard the evidence against you. new fol-
low ms and hear your sentence.
No cross-examination, no defence was
allowed BY the laws Of this council.
Rising together as If moved by single
mind, the funeral procession followed its
leader. and left the hall by the door
through which Sir John had entered it.
Again through the same winding passa-
ges, again down the same narrow steps,
silently and noislessly they gIided like
ghosts returning 10 their graves. Sur
rounded by his guards, Sir John followed
Immediately after the last Of the Judges
wondering all the time what was to be
his fate, When they had reached the
lowest floor Of the building, and were
nearing again the loathsOme cell from
which he had so lately been taken. the
cortege divided, and Sir John was brought
face to face with the senior Judge.
You have insulted the Serenissima you
have denied its power of furnishing crime
because you have been robbed of a paltry
handkerchief, and it had not been immed-
lately found and given back to you. Now
look - As he said these last words, the
masked judge stepped on one side, and
directed Sir Johns gaze to darker cor
ner Of the dark passage. There, hanging
against the wall. the rope that encircled
his neck disappearing through the stone,
was the corpse Of man.
Entranced by this sight, and thinking
that perhaps he also was going to be
hanged In the same manner by an unseen
hand, Sir John felt rooted to the spot.
After short silence, the Judge contin-
ued, ''This man was the thief; in his right
hand you will find your handkerchief.
Take it. As for you. we ought not per-
haps to be so lenient; but in consideration
Of your youth, and of the high position
you hold in your country, we will over
look your fault. You are forgiven. Out
side this gate gondola waits for you; it
will take you to Mcstre, and thence you
will be conveyed to the frontier. Go
But remember always what you havesecn
tonight.
SEEKING with trembling hand the lace
handkerchief that had been the canse ofso
much trouble, Sir John wanted to speak,
wanted to thank this unknown Judge;
but before he could recover his voice the
phantoms had disappeared, and two jail
ors only were by his side. Without
word, and apparently without an effort,
these two men opened secret door lead
ing to the canal, and helped the now lib
Grated man into a gondola that was
moorsd to the steps, and slowly padded
away from the palace in which Sir John
had spent that dreadful night. At Mestre
a coach was waiting for him. In few
hours the frontier was crossed. Then
only did he begin to breathe freely. But
for long time afterward he avoided any
allusion to his Venetian adventure and
for many years he could not speak oft.
Now the Serenissma is gone. the cells
have been sacked by an infatuated mob,
and innumerable tourists visit the hall
where the Secret Council held its nightly
sittings; but even now cannot help feel
ing relieved when have left behind me
Venice. its dark canals and the darker
memories that cling to them.