The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-11
M M1ARY'S REIGN
BY BARONESS EAfMUsKA ORczY
Copyright 1907 by reservedo
BY BARONESS EMMUsKA ORC.

as the clerks final words echoed feebly
through the vast hall, a great sigh of
eager excitement rose from the entire
multitude.
Everything so far had been but pre-
liminary the somewhat dull. lengthy
prologue OF the coming palpitatinG
drama! But at last the curtain was
about to rise on the first act, and the
chief actor was ready to step upon the
stage.
Already from afar loud murmurs
proach of the prisoner.
He hath arrived from the Tower"
WHISPERED the prcntices to one another.
4. The distant murmurs grew in volume.
then came nearer and nearer. All necks
were craned to see the Duke arrive,
s and even the repeated calls Of the
were now left UNDECIDED.
Whispers passed from LIP to ear.
Comments and conjectures flew through
the crowd. Was not this the most In
day?
How would he carry himself?"
How would he look?"
How doth a nobleman look when he
becomes a felon"
Silence! Here they comet"
The Sergeart-at-arm once moro
stood up before the people and loudly
read q proclamation. calling upon the
Lieutenant of the Tower OF London TO
return his precept and bring forth his
prisoner.
PRESENT.! from outside. followed by
loud tumult. The next moment the
great doors Of the hall were thrown
open. six armed men entered and
walked straight up the centre aisle to-
wards the bar.
Behind them appeared the Lieutenant
Of 2, ,,, the Tower Of London with Lord
ID Esclade. fifth Duke of Wessex. the
prisoner.
Dressed all In black. he looked dis
membrance of him; sigh of excited
anticipation went all along the line. a
r reg lar ,bousculade ensped the peo-
Glimpse Of the Duke a sa1 and pushing using
those who were in front. Tho prem
ticcs who were sduattine in the fore
most rank on the ground were violently
jerked forward. some falling on their
faces right UP against the lieutenant
and my Lord Rich. seeing which and
the general excited confusion. the Duke
was observed to smile.
CHAPTER XXXv.
The Trial.
The excitement. great as it was. had
perforce to be kept in check.
lected his papers he now stood up
and called upon the accused:
Robert, Duke of Wessex and Of Dor
chester. Earl of Launceston. Wexford
and Bridthofpe, Baron of Greystone.
ullesttorpe and Edbrooke. Premier
Peer Of England. hold UP thy right
hand"
. The prisoner having done. SO. Mr.;
the contents of the indictment.
Whereas II is said that on the four
teenth day Of October thou didst I'M
lawfully kill Don Miguel. Marquis de
Suarez. grandee Of Spain and envoy
extraordinary OF His Most Catholic
Majesty, the King Of Spain. thou art
therefore 10 make answer to this
charge of murder l therefore charge
thee once again; Art thou guilty OF
yea or nay?'
and have confessed"
BY whom wilt thou be tried?"
by God and by my peers
Before we proceed continued the
Sergeant, what SAFEST thou Robert.
Duke of Wessex. is that which thou
hast confessed true?"
ut is true
And didst thou confess it willingly
and freely of myself. or was there any
extortion or unfair means to draw 1t
from thee?"
Surely 1 - made adj ,ha. confession s,nd1,,
a arrs' eonstr nG and md tas IS all '
and hast thou read the dispositions
OF those who were witness of thy crime.
and who have added their testimony to
that which thine accusers. the Queens
commissioners already know"
Il have not read those depositions.
Is there vas no one presen, when pon
God."
As wessex made this last bold
declaration. the Queens Sergeant
turned towards His Eminence. as II
expecting guidance from that direc-
ton. but as nothing came, he con-
tinued:
Il would have thee weigh well what
thou sayest. Thine answers and CON
much to mitigate the severity OF the
punishment which thy crime hath
called forth"
Il will make miro own confession"
return to his own naughty manner.
Il pray you teach me. not how to
answer or confess. But because l was
know It all or not, have made a short
declaration of my doings with Dor,
Miguel. That is the truth my lords.
he added. addressing his trlers and
judges on the bench; everything else
which hath been added contrary 70
mine own confession is lie and
perjury, as God here Is my witness.
OF the fact. as the Clerk OF the Crown
circumstance nor detail.
that T am being tried?" rejoined Wes--
SEX cor for the murder of Don Miguel
de suarez to which hereby plead
The The Queens Sergeant looked to Sir
Robert Catline, for, guidance. Tn:
Lord Chief Justice. however was of
opinion that the prisoners confession
must be read first, before any further
argubent about it could be allowed.
The Clerk of the Crown then rose and
began to read:
a;rhe voluntary confession of Robert.
Duke Of WesseX. now a prisoner in the
Tower. and accused of murder. treason
and felony; made at the Tower of
1853: I hereby acknowledge and con-
fess that on the. l4th day of October
| l did unlawfully kill Don Miguel, Mar
quis de Suarez. by stabbing him in the
back with my dagger. For this muir
der / plead neither excuse nor iustif-
cation. and submit myself to trial
| by my peers and to the Justice OF this
realm. So help me Godn"
The bench, the entire hall. was
the exception of the very small faction
who for reasons they deemed good and
adequate desired the Spanish alliance
and the death Of the man at the bar.
mot single man or woman present
believed that that confession was an
expose, of the truth. The Sergeant him
self tho Clark ~ the the AT.