The National tribune., 1882-04-29

India, where he had a chance of earning
large sum of money in railroad-cutting, and
come back in two years to mary me. Ills
term of absence is almost over now, and II L
can be saved, save me. Oh yes save me, |
coniure you, for his sake! But if there is |
no hope for me, then by your feeling as q |
man, NJ. Vital, entreat you to so manage |
that all will be over, and that I shall be Il
dead before he returns. Thus | have given
you a secret / thought to carry to my grave;
but t. but have another prayer to make.
If Henri returns to find they have-kllied
me, tell him from me to take no vengeance
on anybody only ask him to believe III
my innocence! VIII you promise me that
my friend? Why do you look at me so
hagsardly? Why are you quaking?"
Why, indeed? Why had Justin Vitali's
face turned to marble? Well might he
have moaned at that moment, in the words
Of the PsaImist, "All thy rivers and floods
have gone over mel"
VI.
The trial of Clotilde Desplans attracted to
NJ the greatest concourse OF strangers
that had ever been seen there. How thou
sands of strangers could hope that there
would be room for them in q court Oh justice
which had the greatest difficulty IN accom-
modating two hundred spectators, including
unemployed members of the bar, is one OF
those mysteries which present themselves
whenever there is anything worthy of in
| terest to be seen anywhere. Some sight
seers consoled themselves for their exclu-
sion from the court by lingering about its
approaches to catch rumors Of what was
going on within; others mobbed the yellow
prison-van that had borne the alleged prls-
| Oner from gaol the greater number haunted
| the cafes and exchanged conIectures, or made
! bets, about the verdict. The general opinion
seemed to be that there would be conyIc-
ton. The deputy procurator's Indictment
had somehow got published in the papers
(such documents almost always do) before
being delivered in court, and the chain OF
evidence it furnished seemed powerfully
strong. 1t was not widely known that this
deputy procurator, regarding Justin Vitali
| VIM
procurator generalship to the latter, had
made it a point Of honor with himself to
obtain the conviction Of the Corsicans cli-
ent, for all means of humbling a rival are
good.
He rather overleaped his mark, however,
for some of the constructions put upon the
prisoners acts seemed tritle strained even
to the minds Of provincial jury and audi
ence, so that the effect of the indictment, as
read in a sing-song voice by the procurator's
clerk, was flat. The interrogatory of the
prisoner by the presiding Judge was the
true beginning of the trial. but here agreat
disappointment was in store for everybody,
seeing that Clotilde's answers were so low
spoken rs to be almost inaudible save To the
bench and jury. This made herl 't
enemies, and converted not a a-
enthusiastic partisans to belle aa
guilt; for to have obtained tickle
E mission after endless difficulties,
to hear nothing of what is being 50 1'.
be trying to the impartiality even
From the presiding Judges CONNIE
gathered that the prisoner was gi
, but forcible replies, and that t@a
were growing disposed in her c-. =
was whispered thai Justin Vitali hat
been closeted with his client for hours ail(
hours, day after day, and that he had coach
ed her as to all questions that could possibly
be put to her moreover, that the presiding
/ Judge had high opinion of Vitali, ans
5 would be likely to bring out ali point
favorable to the prisoner for his sake-whicl
: was true.
5 The witnesses deposed to nothing new
, to nothing but what the public had know
for weeks past, and they were besides al
s uninteresting class Of persons 8 Captain La
! croix's relatives especially so. The one wa
+ = fat merchant, the other a lean doctor VIII
, scuinted. and the ladies in court could no
b kindle spark of interest in such people
A who evidently thought more of the decease
s mans millions than of himself In tint
the first day of the trial passed off unevent
b fully. Vitali only rose once or twice in til
n day to put cross-queHtions to witnesses. TIL
: questions were keen as blades, and rippe
the evidence given into tatters.
4 Every one remarked the aged look Of tl
q brilliant advocate, who was said TO be onl
v thirty wears old. His shoulders were ben
IS his face wan and pinched. Those who 8;
Il nearest to him noticed that his black ha
is was streaked with grey. Ever and ano
when the witnesses inveighed with MOI
+ than usual warmth against the prisoner, h
a turned towards Madam Desplans an
e. nodded with smile, as if to give her cou
i age. Once he grasped her hand. All da
long the spectators kept opera-gla fixe
ON his features to try and discover traces
d anxiety there, and found none. In some, tt
J. impression produced by his attitude was OF
A. that did the prisoner good
ri On the second day of the trial. which
n WAS known would be the last the court WI
ct more crowded if possible than on the fir
day; but public speculation as to the resu
ID had somewhat taken turn, and witho
e. being able to explain why, most peop
n believed there would be an acquittal. ri
case of the prosecution was seen to be films,
10 the answers of Clotilde as published in Il
~ morning papers appeared fraught Wi
IN truth and then Vital's perfect composu
- conveyed a presentiment that the deten
- would he strong The deputy procurator d