The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-30
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
Under Two Impeachments.
On that same day, Castlemaine, who had
been arrested on a coroner's warrant, was
brought up at Bow Street Police Court, and
formally charged with the attempted murder
of the infant son of the Duke of Craynore,
whom it transpired had been found on the
night of his (Philip's) departure for Russia
dead from failure of the hearts action, but
with every trace of a cruel and dastardly at
tempt to murder by the of prussic acid
that had evidently been administered in haste
and under cover Of darkness, as the drug had
been poured in the mouth of a corpse, and
falling from the mouth flowed over the cloth
ing.
This was the terrible charge over Which all
the world of society was commenting-though
not one person as yet believed him guilty
that was read over to Castlemaine, as, hor-
rified and daZed, he stood by the side of the
detective who had arrested him, through the
facts ELECTED at the inquest held several days
previously, and was briefly stated as follows:
The nurse had left the child sleeping quiet
ly at II O'Clock, for the purpose Of preparing
his night food and medicine, at the same
time as the Duchess of Craymore had en-
tered the house accompanied by a gentle
afterwards understood to be the ac-
cused-and returning, about three-quarters of
an hour later, had found the child dead, with
every trace of an attempt to poison.
During that time it was known that her
grace had been closeted with her maid pre-
pairing for the ball at the French Ambassa-
doris, while according to the footman's evil
dence the servants were all up, and in the
lower portion of the house, he alone remain
ing in the hall to await his mistress orders
and who positively affirmed that it was not
possible for anyone to have entered or left
the house during that time without his
knowledge of the fact.
But where Castlemaine during that
three-quarterS of an hour? This he would
undoubtedly prove, all that was known at
the present was that he had entered and left
the house with her grace, and that during
his period Of waiting he had been ushered
into the drawing-room, on a level with the
child's sleeping apartments, at which time,
according to the doctors calculation, the
poison must have been administered.
Having thus far been formally charged the
case was discussed, and he was remanded to
answer the charge at the next sitting.
1. was then that to Castlemaine's infinite
amazement the Earl of Kraiin, who had
been watching the proceedings with several
we'll known faces, came forward and re-
quested bail, that was somewhat reluctantly
granted to the tune Of two sureties of 6 O0C
each, then he went over and shook Castle
n1aine'S hand
"This is a foul charge, Castlemaine but
never fear it must fall through. No one be-
Eeves you guilty, and I've come to invite you
TO Ue lily guest I'LL THIS ABSURD case
is thrashed out. You'll not refuse me? We
expect you, and-Kitty would be disap-
pointed
There was a strange mixture of diffidence
and embarrassment in the Earps cordia
tone that the younger man, harassed with
anxiety, failed to notice. however though
had he been aware that the fact of the child's
death having again placed him heir to the
DukeGom of Craymore, and the grave r11.
nors that the dukes letters and kilograms
had not been called for. nor his yacht heard
Of for the last three weeks, had something te
do with the Earl's cordiality, he would have
set less value on this proof of his good feel
ings
AS it was he accepted. after some Iittle
pressing, willingly enough: those magic
words, kitty would be Disappointed rams
in his brain, and the thought of all the ten.
de- sympathy her love would give till this
/ terrible shadow should be lifted from his
name. broke down the pride that hated to he
beholden TO any man, yet recoiled against a
CON mon prison.
"Of course, Philip, there is truth in the
rerort that you We're the day of this 5e.
plors bic affair in the company of the duchess
/ and that you merely met at Victoria by
chance. as she stated at the inquest?" said
the earl when they had quietly left the court
/ together, and were driving to Castlemaine's
cha mbers for necessary arrangements.
.s,That is question l cannot answer" he
answered. gravely. But 1 solemny declare
to YOU that am innocent of this foul charge